We live in a culture where constantly being occupied with something is more valued than everything else. In a society where a person’s worth is measured by the amount of so-called success they had in life, people feel the need to continuously achieve in order to be validated. This is not the conscious drive to achieve but an almost compulsive desire to get ahead of something. It creates an atmosphere of unhealthy competition and puts huge pressure on young people.
There is almost no time left for self-reflection and rest. This results in stressed and exhausted youth who look forward to finishing one thing and then moving on to the next without ever enjoying the process. It is always the end result that matters and its value in comparison to others. People compulsively follow the predetermined path that society thinks is best for them. In that process, they lose themselves, their creativity and their peace.
According to a study conducted by Psychology Today, there is no proof that under pressure, we perform better even though some claim that we do. In reality, persistently working under stress and pressure will harm our mental health and well-being.
Sadly, putting our mental health first is not considered normal. What we end up doing is convincing individuals that in order to succeed, they need to learn how to work under pressure and be okay with that. We never discuss whether or not the prize of that success under so much pressure would actually be worth it.
The feeling of failure and not meeting expectations doesn’t only affect productivity and performance but also harms physical health, according to researchers.
Anyone who is in a state of uncertainty and not knowing what to do with their future career is pressured into making a decision. There is intolerance for confusion, you have to know at all times where you are headed and what your next step is. As a result, there is no space left for breathing.
Our society places a great value on intellectual achievement. Those who fall short of the mark frequently receive severe criticism, which develops self-doubt about one’s skills and intelligence.
Parents continuously push their children to the edge because they want them to thrive in life. The concern parents have for doing so is to make sure their child doesn’t fall behind in the world’s ever-growing “competition.” They frequently generalize what success and perfection are based on how others perform. But in addition to hurting their development and learning, the extreme pressure on young people makes them even more stressed and anxious.
The alternative is not to completely release them; instead, give them the room they need, offer them guidance, and let them make their own choices. You may continue to take care of them in this way without feeling any pressure from others.
When it comes to professional development, the pressure is the same. One has to tick all the standard boxes and “work hard” to achieve recognition and validation.
We aren’t really taught to bounce back after failures. In the process of prioritizing success, we pretend that our performance is separate and disconnected from our well-being.
“give them the room they need, offer them guidance, and let them make their own choices” It`s a good way to manage 🙂