Finding Inspiration in Hard Times

"Technology, which was supposed to make our lives easier, seems instead to be magnifying our problems. Serious people warn of the risk of AI taking over the world and making human beings extinct-and still we develop it unchecked. Social media is alive with howls of rage and polarization. Our phones buzz and ping without reprieve, external manifestations of the chaos inside."

"And this taboo is actually one of the most exhausting parts of the hard times we live in right now. It's the source of the voice that tells us we shouldn't be finding things hard. It's the source of the internal critic who tells us that we should always be grateful, that we should be calm, that we need to stay positive and upbeat and use a growth mindset to turn exploding bombs into a learning opportunity."

Relentless negative news, geopolitical violence, economic strain, and rapid technological change are creating pervasive stress and fear. Technology and social media amplify threats and polarization, while persistent alerts and online rage heighten internal turmoil. Many people feel exhausted, frightened, and increasingly isolated as community bonds fray and loneliness rises. Cultural taboos against struggle stigmatize unhappiness and fuel an internal critic that demands constant positivity and gratitude. Practices like gratitude and growth mindsets coexist with legitimate needs for grief and anger. Suffering is not a moral failing; it signals ongoing capacity to perceive, feel, and cherish love, beauty, and hope.

Read at Psychology Today