"Nordic countries' 'happy' reputation masks sadness of young" - Why and how to remedy
On last Saturday the Guardian published an article citing a report, conducted by the Nordic minister's committee, which claimed:
credit: The Guardian
"Nordic countries' 'happy' reputation masks sadness of young. A significant minority of young people in Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland ‘struggling or suffering’. While the reasons will vary from one individual and one country to another, it is thought that stress, loneliness, and feeling under pressure to succeed may be playing a large part in their unhappiness."
So, what may be the solution? It'd be to easy to tell people "don't get stressed" or "don't run after the money", "look for meaningful relationships so you wouldn't feel lonely". But the sad truth is that most will not follow those pieces of advice. And why? Because they are empty words.
The problem in the first place was the emptiness that those young people feel. They have a comfortable life, lavish lifestyles, secured homes and jobs, but still, they have holes within. And holes are destined to be filled. Therefore, people fill the holes with what is available, fast and short-term solutions – pursuing power, money and quick satisfaction.
Don't misunderstand, there is nothing wrong with being rich or having random relationships. When coming from an aware state of being it's an experience. The problem begins when those behaviors try to replace the essence.
And the essence will always remain the same for the human – know yourself.
People in Scandinavia, or anywhere else for that matter, will only know peace of mind and joyous hearts when they relinquish the illusions of the matter and focus on connecting with their master self and then their soul essence. There is no other way, and until they do that similar reports will keep piling up.
To realize the truth, you have to experience it, otherwise it’s all just empty words. You have to go through stress, you have to go through what actualy stress can do to you. It’s almost like you are born for the second time. What does it mean to be rich? For some it’s money and for others it’s health, family and happiness. I don’t believe being rich brings you happiness. If it does, it’s only temporary. Afterall, we don’t live to work, we work to live. More work equals more stress. I experienced it on myself.
I used to think like that. Now I don't. Spiritual growth can be achieved with ease and grace. It's true that painful experiences give us valuable knowledge and wisdom, but they are not necessary.
They no longer have culture, their ancestral traditions were obfuscated and buried much like most people of this fine earth. Hence we have a bunch of lost people following not the stars of the sky.
Intersting.
So it goes back to my point. Outside causes disappear and one needs to look for inner motivation.
What I can offer as an over-encompassing yet simplistic and generalizing explanation is this: the younger generations (millennials and genX'ers, like myself) suffer from the vacuum created by the absence of a higher purpose, or socially recognized common ground. this is due to neo-liberal capitalism being the dominant ideology which seeks to individualize yet does the opposite. also intended and unintended subversion of existing social cohesion is done by our elites. I'm not for a return to the modernist "ism's".. but we should consider the consequences of our world-views.
Indeed.
Hence my suggestion to go inside and find the biggest motive of all - knowing the self.
Thanks for the contribution.👍