Why are so many people you meet these days so unhappy.?

Question

It seems to me that a lot of people you meet are very unhappy and are full of anger. Just look at all of the "creature comforts" We have now compaired to just 100 years ago. (Dvd players, computers, video games with state of the art graphics, mp4 players,ipods, Nice cars etc etc) We have clean working conditions. My grandad used to do 14 hour shifts down a coal mine and it was bloody hard work. So my question is. Why are a lot of people so miserable these days. We dont know we are born compaired to someone who lived just 100 years ago.

Answer 1

Unreal expectations is the answer. People think life is a race. You must complete your studies in your 20s,
then you must define your career and find a suitable mate to marry in your 30s,
you must accumulate 'stuff' and be rearing children in your 40's,
you must focused on finances, investments and pensions in your 50s to make way for your 60s
In your 60s you retire and prepare for your fabulous life only to find that your too late to be young and carefree.
You've raced through your life and never stopped for any considerable amount of time to do all the things that will make you and your loved ones happy. Then the pattern repeats itself with your children. And so on.
Redefine your expectations and you'll redefine a happier life.

Answer 2

It's too much industrialization and the fake temporary comforts that are too much in abundance today and being told that people need them. These are things that are not natural and some are on the materialistic side. And too much greed and exploitation. However, it is also the society and environment. People not giving complete heart to family ties and not giving complete attention to their spiritual/faith part of their lives. People being led to think that they are the only important ones in the world and are living life only through their eyes. A lack of culture or people not showing interest in history or arts as in the past. People being taught things and behaviors that lead to unhappiness, discontent and not valuing basic things, and people getting farther and farther away from simplicity and the natural abilities and ways that people had. People are also being shown a false impression on what the picture of success is and what real success amounts to.

Less is more. Remember that.

Answer 3

Really good, interesting and important question. A Zimbabwean lady spoke at church about her experiences. They had nothing in Zimbabwe- they were persecuted, they went hungry, close family members of her's were killed. But the Christian community would band together, share the little they had, pool resources to build churches.

And then she talked about her, her husband and her child coming to this country. They are still going through the asylum process, the government, the media, and many members of the public treat them with suspicion and are unwelcoming. And yet she's so gracious. Asylum seekers aren't allowed to work but are unable to survive on the government hand out they get so she described working in a hospital. It amazed her that it was mostly old people where as in Zimbabwe the hospitals are full of young people dying of AIDS.
And, and this comes to your point- she commented on the contrast between the often very miserable people of this country and the people who are often joyful in the face of much difficulty in Zimbabwe.

The reason is this, in the words of Jesus Christ: "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions". Our material goods and bank accounts aren't fulfilling, and are going to do us no good when we die and have to meet our Maker. The people of this country as a general rule have no hope: they work they play they eat drink and are merry but are going to die and have no hope.

This Zimbabwean woman however, and many other Christians in desperate poverty and persecution across the world are full of joy because like the slaves in America, they know that this world is not their home, they're just passing through on the way to glory. They are such a great example to us western Christians who have that some hope in the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

I 100% agree with "a big bright shining star". I'm 51 and remember back when I was a kid........no, we didn't have much, but what we had was great. Outings with our parents, going to grandparents homes on Sundays, playing outside because we didn't have video games and 100's of channels to watch, using our imaginations, socializing with friends in person, not the internet or cell phones. Our parents worked, sometimes harder than people do today, but I feel hard work never hurt anyone.....it makes people feel more productive, more active, less depressed, sad and angry. I feel the less we had was better.....didn't have to worry about "keeping up the Jones's" like everyone does today (who has the better MP3, computer, car, house, etc.). Sometimes I wish we could go back to the basics..........Leave it to Beaver.....where are you now?

Answer 5

You have just hit the nail on the head - the REASON people are so unhappy is because of all this technology.

Hard physical work is a cure for depression. It releases and maintains hormones in your body which help you feel good.

Whereas an older generation would have gone on fishing trips with Dad or camping at the weekend or on their bikes, these days they just sit around playing computers or in offices at a desk all day.

Life for many has become sedentary and this is a major cause of depression. Humans need to be active to be happy and some spend most of their day sitting down.

Happiness has nothing to do with money or technology or DVD's, it has to do with adventure and activity things which are greatly lacking in this modern day society.

Answer 6

Ignorance is bliss.......in our modern world of high speed communications / mass media, it is virtually impossible to be ignorant of world and even home affairs, whereas fifty years ago it was quite the norm to be ignorant of wide ranging events around the world unless you made it your business to do so,having all this information at our doorstep or in allot of cases forced down our throats and a lot of it quite depressing no wonder people are so unhappy, less of us are ignorant..... ignorance is, to not be informed or aware of, not stupidity as is a popular misinterpretation.Obviously fifty years ago major events where topical but now most events are researched/investigated /exposed and a more in depth view is at hand for us and more and more of us realise the world dosent have to be the way it is, but we are unable to change anything due to our DEMOCRATIC system........trebors right lets stay ignorant

Answer 7

Someone forwarded an SMS to me that goes like this: We start to feel miserable when we notice the 10% missing (in our life) and overlook the 90% blessings.

I guess these days, a lot of people just fail to pause and appreciate what they have, and instead, choose to whine about even the littlest discomforts they encounter.

Answer 8

Think you are generalising too much.Some of us don't have all the creature comforts and modern technology,anywhere to call home,no pension and work shocking hours! I'm angry at the government and what people have become! And worried about my future when there's not alot I can do about it.
What has someone like me got to be happy about?

Answer 9

Because so many people look constantly inward these days and (maybe some will take offence) but Americans seem to have this 'I'm special' attitide thats being taught culturally that gives them such self importance that when something doesnt go right for them they either fall into depression or get angry.

Answer 10

People look to outside things for happiness. Material possessions, work, relationships. Happiness is an inside job x