From the 80s , with love
Not so long ago , success was measured by the words in your job title and the zeros on your payslip . Two generations , an economic crisis , and several temperature records later , consciences awakened .
Happiness is now the social measure for success . Flexible hours , remote working , and parental leave are up there with commission and company cars . We aspire for a better quality of life . We dream of a re-established order for the professional and the personal . And up until now , everything is OK . Or just about .
But has the rat race simply changed its appearance ?
You need to live . You need to live life to the full . You need to be happy .
And it is this mantra , whose mechanisms were tried and tested circa 1980 , that snaps back into place . With the same pitfalls .
To appear or not to appear
It blows like a wind of rebellion against the ordinary and the boring . Contemporary society commands drive and enthusiasm .
The successful human of 2022 is happy whatever the circumstances and doesn ’ t appear to know the meaning of “ a bad day ”. On their multiple feeds , it ’ s all smiles , all pleasure . You use an image to escape . Little by little , you instill this life ideal within yourself . And up until now , everything is OK . Or just about .
Are we forgetting that such a societal order leaves depression in its wake ?
You need to live . You need to live life to the full . You need to be happy .
Each image becomes an advert . Each glimpse at other people ’ s happiness fabricates needs within ourselves ; rarely real , sometimes superficial , and often artificial . Discontent is back in force . With guilt on its heels . And we ’ re fighting back harder .
Happiness is now the social measure for success .
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