Appropriate Expectations?
Freedom of choice and the intrinsic goodness of it. We are taught and preached to that this is an inherent truth that should ring from all places. The intensity of this belief in our generation could almost qualify as a religion upon which we are our own idol on the pedestal of our life. However, is this a good or true thing?
Certainly it is better to have freedom than be enslaved. At the some time though, does a a greater abundance of free choice make us happy? From my perspective the exponential growth of free choice as a way of life has led to an existential crisis.
From the time we could talk my generation has been told we can “be whatever we want.” All we have to do is put out mind to it and we can do anything. This is nice and motivational, though maybe a bit to lofty a statement. Sure you don’t want to depress kids, but the statement continues through to this very day. Now as adults we are told the same thing, we can be anything we want and change at the drop of a hat if we feel the need. Sometimes it feels like the same prison of no choice; this having to reinvent and renew who we are.
This lack of direction can be paralyzing. Without clear goals or a range of paths to follow it can end up feeling like life is little but chasing your tail and hoping once you clamp down that you’re not actually biting yourself in the ass. This is especially true since our goals with total freedom to “be who we want” are not small.
That’s all for now, I’ll look at the more problems with lofty goals and society later.
