Our world today is more connected than ever, yet that connection often feels like isolation. Technology allows us to communicate across continents in seconds, but we barely know our neighbours. We have more wealth, more access to information, and more opportunities than the generations before us, but somehow, happiness feels increasingly elusive.
Post-modern society has left us in a paradox. The quality of life has improved drastically over the past 100 years, with medical advances, technological innovations, and rising living standards. Yet, in the process, we’ve lost our innocence and our naivete. We’ve become more insulated, isolated, and cynical. Greed is no longer just a flaw in human character; it’s become the currency of survival. We hoard material things, talents, time, and emotions as if life is a zero-sum game. Even in a world of abundance, we cling tightly, convinced that giving too much will somehow diminish us.
But is this truly the only way to live? Is life only about struggle and survival?
In a recent interview between Dr Jordan Peterson and Elon Musk, Peterson hinted that life, at its core, is about struggle. Musk interrupted him mid-sentence, “I beg to disagree,” he said with conviction. “Life cannot be all about solving problems and not having fun.” He insisted that while life comes with challenges, there is more to it than just fighting through them. There are fun times — good times — that we all experience.
Musk’s perspective made me stop and think. He was right. Life is more than just a battle. The struggle is part of it, but it’s not the whole story. We can choose to find joy in everyday moments: in our interactions with family and friends, in our hobbies, and in seeking out new adventures. Life isn’t just about surviving — it’s about living.
As October 10 approaches, marking World Mental Health Day, I reflect on my own journey with mental health. I’ve lived with depression since I was 19, and at 42, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. There have been times when my treatment needed adjusting, and those moments were hard. But for the most part, I’ve lived what you might call a “normal” life. I am one of the fortunate ones who could get professional help. But many people aren’t so lucky and must suffer in silence.
There are real everyday pressures in life that we can’t ignore. Financial commitments to meet, children to raise, careers to navigate — these responsibilities can feel overwhelming. Then there are the crises: the death of loved ones or serious illnesses that upend our lives. For many, the response is to self-medicate, turning to alcohol or substances to escape the pressure. Others might seek refuge in gambling or pornography, using addiction as a hiding place from life’s challenges.
Yet, even when our minds trap us in such darkness, we always have the choice to seek the light.
We have a choice in how we approach life. You can choose to see it as a series of unfair events, where you are always the victim, and nothing ever goes your way. Or you can choose to find joy in the little things — the moments spent with family, the satisfaction of a job well done, the excitement of learning something new, or even the simple pleasure of sitting on the stoep reading a good book.
The world today often feels intent on amplifying the negative. Wars, political corruption, corporate greed, and violent crime dominate the headlines. It’s easy to feel like the world is crumbling — and in some ways, it is. In the pursuit of maximum profit, people and natural resources have become disposable. The value of human life has been reduced to dollar signs, and the planet’s well-being seems like an afterthought.
But even amidst all that, we don’t have to live as though we’re defeated. We can seek out the moments that give us joy. We can focus on building relationships that matter, instead of being consumed by things that don’t. For sure, it’s not an easy choice, and it’s certainly not always simple. But making the choice nudges you in the right direction.
There is an ancient commandment that seems to have been lost in the noise of our modern world: “Love God and love your neighbour.” How do we bring this back as a cornerstone of human existence?
Perhaps it starts with remembering that we are more than just consumers or employees. We are brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, all the citizens of Earth. We are created in the image of God to partake in all that He has created — here and now — and with joy.
Have a great weekend and please remember to be generous! 😄
As always, thanks for reading. 🙏
To receive #MyFridayStory every week, please join any Tribe below:
- WhatsApp Group
- LinkedIn Group
- LinkedIn Newsletter
- Medium.com Newsletter
- Email Newsletter
