Why is there so much pressure on everyone to work hard and be successful?

Answer 1

This is a purely cultural thing. There exist cultures where the values are quite different.

For example, I can think of one culture where family is considered to be one of the most important things. People in this culture usually figure out the very minimum amount of time they need to labor to subsist, perform that work, and then go home. A two hour work day is not uncommon at all. These people would be appalled at the idea of spending all day at work and not spending time with the ones you loved.

And conversely, I can think of cultures where the opposite is true. In this culture, if you do not work more than twelve hours a day, eat most of your meals with your coworkers, and only return home to sleep you are seen as a slacker. Indeed, when anyone leaves work, they must first apologize in person to each of their coworkers - the only person who owes no apology is the one who stays the longest. In this culture, it is not uncommon for a husband not to even refer to his wife by name, and they are usually all but strangers to each other until retirement.

So the pressure exists mostly from tradition, nationalism, and ideas of what it takes to be whatever it is you are. All these cultures seem to do just fine, and each probably considers the others a failure on the basis of not being able to live up to their own subjective standards.

So if you feel out of place, there's probably a place where you wouldn't, if you only look hard enough!

Answer 2

Is there pressure on everyone?

Do you feel the pressure cause you want to be successful? Maybe it is a realization that things are not just handed to you so you have to work hard to fulfill your own dreams.

I personally think that not everyone dreams of working hard and being successful, based on results. I see that a lot of people like to be comfortable and continue doing what they know how to do instead of pushing themselves forward.

Is it possible that pressure is there because someone sees something in you that you have not yet seen for yourself and know you are capable of more? What would you accomplish if you knew that you could not fail?

Answer 3

Most of us are a product of our cultures, Each generation pushes their children towards what they see as success. We want our children to have it easier in someway than we did. We live in a culture now though where images of success are common and always in some way associated with wealth. We are also constantly being told we can be happy if we have this and we can have success if we do that. We believe it! We put the pressure on ourselves if we succeed we tell ourselves it was our own hard work that got us there, we blame others if we dont get it!

Answer 4

In the olden days, if you didn't work hard, you either starved or stole from people who did work hard. Since life was more severe and you could be mutlilated for stealing a loaf of bread, most people chose to work hard. It's this work ethic that has been inbred in all people since the year dot.

Yes, these days you may be able to get the dole and other benefits but working hard is still considered to give you more self-respect. The theory goes that the more you work, the more money you'll have and the easier life will be.

Answer 5

There can be two ways to realise the meanings of success: firstly, success in relation to our environment, and secondly, in terms of what we achieve as a personal development, i.e., to become a better person in our own right. The former is an acquired taste of success, and the meanings of being successful we understand in the context of the environment we live in, and the value of our achievements is determined not by our individual self but by the virtue of our valuability for the society. Along this path there can be problems: we might never know how much of succeeding is just about enough; we might go on and one, for success is not a determinable place along any career path in life; it is always a need, need to succeed and then need to remind ourselves that we succeeded, that we are winners and achievers – success generates it own fulfilling prophecy. We can find refinement and elevation in our pursuits; we can pass the point where we aim for material gains to aspire for prestige and popularity in a society but the actual trait remains the same, our need to get better and better in this world never leaves us alone, for this is where and hoe we experience excellence.

The more personal notions of success are the one that address the needs at the highest of the hierarchy of needs; we have needs for self-actualisation and above social approbation and our needs for food and shelter. The success along spiritual paths has profound meaningfulness for us. This is where instead of running in pursuits of happiness and value we settle within to find that the things of real value we already have; this is where we find contentment in the face of endless appetite for things.

Answer 6

Because humans are not well equppied to deal with the truth, that life is meaningless.

ALthough it is a cultural thing, the puritan work ethic. Not all societies have that same pressure.

Answer 7

Because morons value the price of something rather than its value.
True success is being happy. Wealth and work are not the important things. It's what you do, what you have, it's who you are that counts.

Answer 8

Because no one wants to suffer, Everyone likes to have good things when they need it. No one wants to see that they cant help their children and loved ones enjoy life

No one wants to be unnecessarily sorry, intimidated and play the fool all the time because you cant help it.

Because people like to impress.

People would like to retire and still have a good life keeping misery at bay

Answer 9

What a load of crap! It's all a con. When you die you have nothing. Live your life for yourself, whatever makes you happy. Don't worry about not having anything it only ties you down. The Victorian attitude is what it is, out of date. Do what you want to do. It's your life not your parents or anybody else's. Go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How does that song go.. Don't worry, be Happy.

Answer 10

To reach maximum potential. I find the idea that I will never be able to know how far and how well I can go in a once in a live time opportunity, pretty scary.