A recent survey revealed that teenagers living in the UK were the least likely to think “My life has clear meaning or purpose”.
Teenagers. At a time of life when they should be playing sports, dating, learning in school about things that interest them, testing out different ideas of how they would like to make a living, and having fun along the way, instead they are despondent and desperate.
It isn’t a promising world when the younger generation has lost hope.
Things are difficult in many ways today. Social media has glamorized the lives of the rich and privileged and made many feel bad about themselves. It is too easy to be able to compare your life to someone else’s now and decide that you aren’t measuring up.
The fear about climate change and a possible bleak future is causing these young minds to develop a sense of apathy, a feeling that it won’t matter what they do anyway because the earth is dying and so are we.
And world leaders just can’t seem to act like adults. There is no war on any scale that can ever be deemed a success in any way. It is a failure on a planetary level of epic proportions.
I understand why it is easier to feel hopeless than optimistic. Something needs to change.
Our youth need positive role models. They need to understand that material wealth isn’t the only measure of success.
They need examples of compassion and gratitude in front of them, not of greed and selfishness.
The narrative must reflect hope instead of desperation. If you are reading this, then you are in a position to make a difference.
The easiest way to lead is by example. To sit back and belittle the efforts of others who are trying to make a difference is not the way to help. Contribute instead of criticize. Be bigger than who you are right now and stand up for the things you believe in.
If you are concerned about climate change, then start where you are. Look at how your habits and tendencies are contributing to the problem. As consumers, we vote every day for what we think is acceptable by where we spend money. Look at the stuff you are buying and consider the impact it may have on the health of the planet as a whole, and try to choose a little better.
Vote for change by consciously spending your money and recognizing the long-term effects of what you purchase. Yes, you are only one person but change needs to begin somewhere. Intentionally manage how you function in the world and you will serve as an inspiration to others.
As an empath, I feel the pain that is in those around me. That is why I sit and write every day. It is my way to reach out and throw a lifeline to as many people as I can who might come across these words and need a little encouragement at the moment.
By doing this, I trust that as others begin to feel better, they will reach out and help someone else. And so on, and so on.
You can make a difference. You make a difference every time you say something nice to someone instead of trying to inflict harm. It matters when you respond with kindness when someone else is inconsiderate as opposed to adding to the negativity with your reaction.
All of it matters. Never underestimate what you can do and who you might affect by moving through life with grace and clarity instead of anger and resentment.
None of this is difficult. Don’t focus on all that is wrong, find what is right. Be part of the solution instead of adding to the problem.
Your energy goes out into the world and touches everything around you. Make it feel like a gentle embrace to others instead of another slap in the face.
The world will be a better place as soon as each of us decides to be a better person. Then maybe the younger generation will feel hope instead of futility.