Why is our generation so unhappy?

[Laozi]

Well, teenagers are perfectly happy until they open their Instagram and see this:

After seeing cute couple photos on the internet, they want to have a boyfriend/girlfriend too, but if you look at all the pictures above, literally EVERYONE in EVERY picture is attractive, which leads teenagers to believe that they have to be drop-dead gorgeous to get into a relationship and get girls/guys to love them.

That’s when teenagers start to become self-obsessed and insecure about the way they look and they get depressed at the idea of being alone forever, not realising that they have their entire lives ahead of them to chase their dreams, accomplish their goals, and maybe one day, run into someone that will love them for THEM and will not judge them by a fake standard of beauty found on the internet.

Not only that, but I’ve noticed that students at school actually ENFORCE the stereotypes because they’re so quick to judge:

“She’s fat”

“He’s ugly”

“She ain’t even thick”

“He’s not even tall.”

Yep, I’ve heard it all.

When people stop imposing these stereotypes, I’m certain that this perfect-Instagram-relationship-trend will die because nobody will be following them and so, people will have no choice but see past the looks, into the soul.

I know you know this, but I’ll say it again: Looks aren’t everything.

If you’re a stressed teen and think that you’re HELLA ugly, I promise, it’s just you analysing your skin through a microscope.

And besides, why stress when you can be busy becoming a millionaire?

Don’t stress, stay happy (:

[Anonymous]

Because people literally don't know what actually makes them happy. They think they do, but they really don't. All the freedom and equality everyone has been fighting for has in a lot of ways done more harm than good.

[jamesgoldman]

You hit the nail on the head... I got into 2 relationships more by chance than aim... think my realistically ambitious long term plan with an active don't give a f**k attitude was a plus at the time

[Browneye57]

Basically they've been fed a line of bullshit by their parents since day one. IT's all lies to pump them up. The problem is that creates unrealistic expectations. Like somehow they deserve everything, a good job, a nice romance, success. In reality they are not entitled to anything, they deserve nothing, they get what they get for the effort and work they put in, just like everybody else.
Unrealized unrealistic expectations create unhappiness. And that's it in a nutshell.
Mostly they're focused on all the wrong things - like that yearning for their five minutes of fame on social media, instead of making themselves into something that actually IS great.

[AaronKrieger]

Technology, caring too much of what others think, not exposed to enough situations where you learn how to deal with stress, confrontation, or just being uncomfortable as a whole.

People aren't taught how to cope with life in a healthy manner and push forward.

[winterfox10]

Like someone else said; people literally don't know what makes them happy, and don't want to risk being hurt by something that isn't a sure bet. They are chasing an unattainable ideal, instead of making the best of what they have.

[KrakenAttackin]

Well said. Happiness is about peace-of-mind IMHO. You may not obtain peace-of-mind with a high-pressure, high paying job, a trophy wife, and expensive house on the hill.

[winterfox10]

@KrakenAttackin I think my generation is especially bad about it because we were raised with the belief that we can have it all. Anything less than having it all is compromising, and that would be unacceptable for many of us. We want that dream job, and the perfect spouse, and the 2.4 kids and a white picket fence.

[KrakenAttackin]

My generation was fed the same load of bullshit. Some of the happiest people I have known are guys who work in "dumb" jobs and have outside interests that are their real life. Their work isn't their identity which such a liberating thing for a man.

[Screenwriter]

@KrakenAttackin Ahem, we were ALL fed this line of bullshit by loving parents who wanted the best for us... So they reeled out the "American Dream." Everyone CAN'T be president. Your jokes AREN'T hilarious. You cannot be the best lover in the world or the most beautiful woman or the strongest man... Why does everyone seek to be some sort of superlative. To do well and be happy with your achievements and raise your children lovingly is fabulous. To have a loving relationship with a partner is great too. To be proud of your work.

[winterfox10]

@Screenwriter I don't mean to sound like such a Millennial with this, but what each of our generations have gone through is totally different. Boomers were born into an era where being in America at all meant that you were miles ahead of your competition. Boomers were largely limited by technological innovations and capabilities, but Joey and Josephine Average still had the ability to pursue the American Dream. Gen Xers entered the world towards the end of that prosperity, but American Economy had so much energy that other countries still benefited from opportunities and protections from passing business through America; thus creating opportunity. By the time my generation is born, America is no longer the Hegemonic Power of the 70s and 80s, and we aren't even the better game in town. The MONOLITHIC difference between you two's generations' American Dreams and mine is that my generation was taught how to survive with the wrong set of tools. I have to think that was an innocent mistake on your part, but it has cost US, and soon you, dearly.

[KrakenAttackin]

There is some truth to what you have said, but my generation (X, I am 50 not 40) has not had an easy ride. I came into the work world in the midst of recession, HUGE outsourcing of jobs to China and Mexico, Cold War, the elimination of pensions, and a complete transition of our economy with people having no clue where to go or what to do. My friends fathers worked for Ford, had jobs for 30 years and retired with good UAW benefits. We saw this as how the previous generation lived knowing that it was not available to us. What we did know was the your job could end at any moment of any day (Ever seen the movie "Office Space", this was our reality). Technology was in its infancy and the world was brutally cold to our entry.

I hear Millennials talking about "which company they will work for", when my generation was clawing for any job, any where, knowing it could end a week after we started. Job security was a complete fantasy for us, and still is. We were constantly told "you are not entitled to anything" and "you are here at the pleasure of your employer". Corporations ruled employees by fear, which was very effective in keeping us inline.

You wonder why Gen X'ers lay low at work? It's because we came into the workforce being kicked liked dogs, were laid off, downsized, merged, acquired, fired, and generally seen only as a unit of production that could be readily replaced.

On a side note, this is why Gen X men are so brutally sensitive to #MeToo culture. We know how quickly your job can end, even if you are a stellar performer with awesome evaluations and a clean Hr record.

You are right that each generation has its own challenges, but you have the advantage of being young, the aid of the internet for job skills research/training, and a booming economy.

[Screenwriter]

Yes, every generation's options are different than their parents. Mine stayed in their jobs for life, saved a lot of money because of that stability and because home prices were miniscule. The only reason MY house is paid for is my inheritance from my dad. I left the workforce because of a disability. So I can't help my son, a millennial, as much as my father helped me. His dad pitches in, and I offer emotional support with a few gifts per year. I offer any wisdom I can think of. He's carving out a career. But I will leave my home and anything else I can to my son... I haven't had an American Dream. I've worked at a few good jobs and have a few degrees under my belt. I paid for those myself, though. True, my college costs were small compared to today's costs. So there is that. But again, I had help from my dad on my master's degree, which I earned in 2010. He helped me buy a car and paid for a semester of tuition for me. My son's dad and I pitch in in various ways to help him when he needs it. All I can think of to say is, if you have kids who are millennials or Gen x, help them. That's the ticket. It's a parent's job until you're dirt napping. It got me through. I hope to get my son through too.

[jenn11161986]

Because based on my observation, younger people nowadays are more concern over their image on their socmed accounts than living their own life. Some of those i know get mad if they don't reach a certain amount of "likes" on their socmed accounts

[Dchrls78104]

Recently a 19 year old girl in England killed herself because she didn't get enough "likes" on her Instagram photos.

[Screenwriter]

@Dchrls78104 Too bad she didn't love herself enough. Something else was missing though. Probably for a long while...

[mrsingle]

@Screenwriter How can someone love them self if others don’t show them love first? That girl probably had a bad upbringing and was reaching out for attention and love from others and never found it. A lot of people aren’t happy with themselves, most of us aren't in some way nobody ever has a perfect life, but reaching out for love of others isn’t wrong.

[Screenwriter]

@mrsingle This is precisely true. You have to be loved from your home of origin! Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings... Reaching out for likes on Insta isn't about getting the love you missed at home though. It's a sad 100th. But, you have to develop love and acceptance from yourself FIRST. You have to be happy with yourself. And sure of your goodness. It takes great effort to do this if you didn't get it as a child. You might wait forever for someone ELSE to love you. You've gotta reach IN before you can sucessfully reach OUT!!!

[Dchrls78104]

@mrsingle and unless we learn to treat each other with love and consideration, there may be more like her.

[Screenwriter]

@Dchrls78104 Suicide is the out of a severely depressed, despairing person. Someone like Robin Williams had manic depressive illness, was an alcoholic and drug addict and FINALLY had Parkinson's Disease... He gave up. When people are very young and kill themselves I think it's more despair and ANGER. Why can't I do better and fuck you world for making me suffer. If you're past 60 and you kill yourself, you can't deal with the pain you feel yourself suffering. By 60 you know others will suffer after your death, but you BELIEVE they and you will be better off: despair.

[mrsingle]

@Screenwriter Trust me I know this, I am in that situation currently. It’s hard though silently suffering when most that don’t me don’t give two fucks what happens to me. Nobody gets to know me enough to see I am a great person

[mrsingle]

That girl in the first pic is hot!

Honestly, things like Instagram and Facebook are fake lives. Most only show the good times but hide the bad. What may appear perfect is usually far from it, hence why they are so obsessed at showing people they are happy, but really it shows if you must brag you aren’t that happy with life.

[shimmeryns]

When I look at the photos above, I smile at how happy they look. They don't make me feel insecure or unhappy tough, the first photo is cute and I wonder if I could do similar pose with mine lol!

[KrakenAttackin]

@shimmeryns I bet you have never gone more than 15 minutes without a boyfriend or friends with benefits. Life is a lot easier for a pretty girl.

[Chase7777]

Great, this isn't about you

[shimmeryns]

@Chase7777 and I am not part of the generation now? Well then great.

[LexyIsSexy23]

You're better

[Meropatrick]

Teenagers are really just obnoxious train wrecks nowadays. That is why we need to have wars back. The battlefield front and the trenches are the best place for those whiny teenagers. Not a computer screen.

[Chase7777]

You're really dumb

[Aakash_Hangargi]

Now days with technology everybody's life has changed to Big Brother's Show everybody is watching you. And you yourself give access to people to judge you and there is race and pressure to be happy on social media now

[Rob19777]

I don't know what instagram or other social media you been looking at but I've never seen any such thing with the exception of that narcassist nikki bella from wwe (but in all fairness I can think of a worse narcassist IJustine)

[Obdntboytoy]

Feminazies, social media, dangerious sexist laws against males the list goes on and on and i domt have time to post on here for long i have to drive 3 hours to my home where i live a lone by my self and are happier for it..

[sixxx]

Because we lack social life due to technology and social media

[mojo0]

Its comes down to loneliness and insecurity in life. Any way who is the old man in your picture?

[Laozi]

That's Laozi (aka Lao Tzu, Lao Tze). He was an ancient Chinese philosopher and writer. He is the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching, the founder of philosophical Taoism, and a deity in religious Taoism and traditional Chinese religions.

[kamalravi25]

They are young and compare their life, themselves and their partner with those people who live better life than them.

[Screenwriter]

Used to be called keeping up with the Joneses... when neighbors compared themselves... Now we have hundreds of thousands of people to compare ourselves with and find ourselves wanting!!! Terrible...

[Biancatsumi1991]

Because we’re not contented. We always see something to envy, social media makes it worse.

[Lman3000]

People are just clueless fucks who don't know how easy life is now and just want to over complicate things cause some dumb fuck just had to make the little things such a big fucking deal, Fuck society specifically dating I hate it.

[Gsm24diecast]

https://youtu.be/fdWtIboYLEg

listen to the whole song

[Chill_Meta]

Too much instant gratification and things being readily available with ease of access vs putting in some amount of work to earn the reward

[zagor]

It's not just teenagers. Shallow lasts a long time.

[Pejtu]

You know why?
Because of Social media
Instagram
Etc

[beechman2129]

They think they are missing out and get a "i need that in my life" feeling.