The internet and social media have changed our lives greatly. It’s
hard to believe there was a time before the internet and cell phones;
they are simply fantasic. If you are like many people today, the
Internet pretty much rules your life. Many of us spend our entire day
connected to social media following all the wonderful, problem-free
lives everyone else is leading. Okay, that was a bit cynical, I admit,
but while everyone else is out having a great time, traveling, winning
the lottery, dating the most wonderful person on the planet, driving
the coolest new car, posting faultless selfies, and retweeting the latest
motivational thoughts… you’re left with all the cool things you don’t
have and the cool things you’re not doing. Life according to the
Internet: I am the most boring person on the planet with nothing but
problems to solve.
Twenty minutes online and it’s hard not to feel cheated by life. After
all, if you don’t have the greatest house, or a new expensive car, or
the latest 1,500 dollar iPhone, or even a cause—you are a failure.
With all the cool things happening online—NOTHING but the best of
the best pumped into your skull 24/7—everyone is a failure. I mean,
why aren’t you a billionaire or a celebrity? Why don’t you have the
perfect life? Why don’t you have everything you want? You’d be
happy then, right? Wrong!
I say you are much richer and happier than you think. It’s problems
that make us happy. More to the point, solving problems is what really
makes people happy. I can hear you cussing me from here, but keep
reading. Having problems and solving them keeps us focused and
moving forward. Problems give us something worthwhile. After you
solve a problem, you feel truly happy: a sense of accomplishment,
a check in the win column, a feeling of moving towards something
that is YOU. Your problems are good. Having a new car brings its
own problems. Having a high paying job has its problems. Keeping
a perfect body has its problems. When you solve a problem, or get
rich, or accomplish anything… you’ll immediately get brand new set
problems to solve.
If you like walking alone in the forest, do it. If you want a simple
family life, do it. If you really like playing tennis, do it. If you want to
get a new job, do it. Solve the problems needed to make yourself
happy. There is no such thing as a problem-free life. Don’t let the
Internet trick you into feeling like a failure.