Children of Well-Being

In the most developed and affluent societies of the world, we are witnessing an increasingly evident phenomenon: a psychological regression unfolding alongside rapid technological evolution. This paradox raises questions about how material progress might negatively influence our human and social development. Contemporary society seems to be heading toward a generalized flattening, where human potential is sacrificed in the name of entertainment and an ever-centralized ego.

Affluence is undoubtedly a positive achievement for humanity, yet it can become a limitation when experienced without awareness. In wealthy societies, the constant availability of material and technological resources has created an environment where difficulties are avoided at all costs. This attitude leads to psychological stagnation: challenges, which have always been stimuli for growth and personal transformation, are systematically eliminated through entertainment or consumption.

Instant gratification, now a dominant element of our lives, replaces the pursuit of meaning and enduring values. This develops a mindset focused on the ephemeral, where the sense of community and belonging is supplanted by the cultivation of personal image. It is a cult of the self, where affluence becomes a constraint on existence.

As animals, humans possess extraordinary potential expressed through creativity, the ability to build relationships, and the search for meaning. However, these qualities require fertile conditions to emerge: time, dedication, effort, and a vision that transcends the present, reaching between the past and future. The dominance of consumer and entertainment culture denies these conditions.

Rather than serving as a springboard for greater human fulfillment, technological progress has, in many cases, made psychological confrontation with challenges more difficult. Without diverse obstacles to overcome, humanity risks losing the ability to think, solve problems, innovate, and create. The ease and accessibility that define contemporary affluence have dulled the drive for exploration and discovery, leading to a cultural, intellectual, and existential flattening.

From childhood, new generations grow up in an environment that prioritizes comfort and tranquility without teaching them the merit and value behind these states. This context, though seemingly positive, often deprives young people of the ability to appreciate the work, effort, and resilience required to achieve meaningful goals, including the status they enjoy. The lack of sacrifice, even at an early age, prevents future adults from understanding the importance of contributing to and engaging in something larger than their immediate interests.

A child constantly praised for completing trivial tasks might grow up believing every action deserves recognition, regardless of effort or significance. Similarly, an overprotective parent who resolves every difficulty under the guise of helping inhibits the child from confronting frustration—a necessary element for learning, developing strategies for adversity, and finding inventive solutions.

In my view, a crucial part of the issue lies in parents' widespread misunderstanding of their role. Parenting is not primarily about loving and being loved; it is about preparing children to face life's challenges and ensuring their autonomy. Love, though essential, should not be the ultimate goal but rather a tool to support this purpose. However, many parents fall into a psychological trap, becoming slaves to the desire for emotional reciprocation from their children. This contrasts with the natural evolutionary order, which does not account for such stagnation. Of course, this does not mean children should lack gratitude. But it is not the child's responsibility to compensate for their parents' emotional shortcomings—nor the reverse. The parental bond should be based on mutual growth and preparing the child for an independent life, not on expectations of gratitude or emotional repayment.

We grow up believing that suffering is unnecessary, numbing pain with every means at our disposal and preventing our brains from learning how to process it. The result is a generation that struggles to find satisfaction in the process, focusing solely on the outcome without valuing the journey required to achieve it. There is no longer joy in effort, no happiness in hard work.

At the same time, the overstimulation created by constant entertainment reduces the space for more meaningful activities. Moments of silence, boredom, and introspection are essential for developing creativity and deep emotional connections, even with oneself; unfortunately, they are replaced by a constant stream of trivial stimuli. Our lack of attention to self-reflection and the world around us diminishes our capacity to imagine new scenarios and limits our ability to appreciate the reality we live in. Rediscovering the value of silence and boredom is essential—not as moments to be passively filled, but as spaces for thought.

The issue lies in the direction of our thoughts—too self-centered, too closed, too rigid. Hungry for gossip, curious about others' egos to satisfy our own, and caught in a cult of personality we long to participate in.

Arrogantly, I believe that most people are using their potential, time, and energy in the most misguided way possible—all to avoid sacrificing their anesthetic comfort.

The ego, when viewed as a tool rather than a tyrannical master, can once again become an ally in the search for deeper meaning. It can help forge a life earned, deserved, lived, and enjoyed in all its nuances.

The path is not easy, but it is necessary. For the children of well-being to become children of being: individuals capable of transforming their potential into reality and finding meaning beyond the mirror.