Action Versus Angst
"Adjusting for population growth, ten times as many people in Western nations today suffer from 'unipolar' depression, or unremitting bad feelings without specific cause, than did half a century ago. Americans and Europeans have ever more of everything except happiness." - Gregg Easterbrook
The other day, I read a piece by Mark Manson in which he argues that the key to happiness lies in solving problems. In his words: "The secret sauce is in the solving of the problems, not in not having problems in the first place... True happiness occurs only when you find the problems you enjoy having and solving."
While Manson was writing about the individual, the concept had me thinking about the impact unrelenting catastrophism is having on our collective psyche as a civilization. From climate change to COVID-19 on the left to illegal immigration and election fraud on the right, we are constantly being berated by issues, largely outside of our personal ability to control, and are told they are crises -- many of them existential.
There is no doubt that some of these issues are serious, but they are certainly not the apocalypses they're frequently made out to be. Framing current events this way is not helpful and has likely played a huge role in the influx of mental health issues and interpersonal conflict in Western countries.
We get so invested in the political issue of the day that we find ourselves living under a constant haze of angst and discontent, troubled in our souls because of these ever-present problems we are unable to solve.
The resulting unsettling feelings cause us to lash out at one another. We feel threatened by others getting in the way of our tribe solving a problem we are concerned about. For a recent example of this, think back to just months ago when people would get berated on the street for not wearing a mask.
I am not trying to discount the seriousness of any of these issues. (Although, if you are truly unsettled by people not wearing masks outdoors, you probably are more driven by emotion and less by science than you care to admit.) But what I am saying is we would all do well to follow the advice of Theodore Roosevelt and "do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
If you are concerned about voter fraud, and it is keeping you up at night, have you thought about volunteering as a poll watcher on election day? If you are concerned about the environment, have you altered your personal consumption habits to live in a more sustainable way?
If the answer is no, to paraphrase Matthew 7:5, perhaps it's time to shift focus away from the splinter in your brother's eye and onto the log in your own.
No matter how passionate we are about a specific social problem or public policy outcome, we cannot force others to share our beliefs and walk in lockstep with us towards our own preferred solutions. We must stop internalizing macro-societal issues and taking personal offense when others disagree with us if we are ever going to find enough common ground to work with others and move forward. Don't forget, our nation is divided politically almost fifty-fifty.
In large and diverse societies such as ours, people will have different opinions and priorities. Not only is that not a bad thing, but it should be encouraged! The road to Hell is paved with good intentions — without voices raising concerns about the potential pitfalls when the rest of the nation is engaging in group-think, there may often be unforeseen, unjustifiable collateral damage.
If long-term, sustainable happiness truly lies in the search for meaning (or in Manson's words, solving problems) rather than chasing the ephemeral pleasures of the day, we would all do well to break these larger societal problems down into digestible chunks that you and I can personally influence.
After all, unless you are the president or a billionaire, there is likely not much you can do about the larger societal problems, but if everyone pitched in and helped with smaller, more local concerns - the world, little by little would become a better place.
