They say the road to hell is paved with the best intentions. For almost a decade now, I've been blogging about happiness. I started this blog as an outlet for my writing and because I was fascinated by the juxtaposition of people living in a world with so much wealth, but struggling more than ever to be happy.
I've learned much about what makes me happy, the science of happiness and the intrinsic benefits of having purpose, showing gratitude and helping others.
I now fear instead of helping people live a happier life, I've contributed to the navel-gazing narcissistic culture our society has become.
Forget the #MeToo movement. We're living in the age of #JustMe.
I know what you're thinking. Every generation has claimed that the next generation is more selfish and self-absorbed than they were. Perhaps, but the advent of computers, cell phones, celebrity culture and the seismic shift in how we work and play in the past fifty years has propelled us into a whole new level of egocentricity.
Honestly, if I see another selfie of a 20-something posing sideways in front of a bathroom mirror holding up their cell phone with pouty lips, accentuated hips, and frosted tips, I think I'm going to lose it.
And don't even get me started on the hyper-focus on resilience. Try telling a farmer living a hundred years ago in rural Canada with six mouths to feed and no running water you're taking a break to "practice self-care" or going on a "forest therapy walk", they'd mock you until their cows came home.
A sad and disturbing product of this #JustMe movement is we all have become more polarized in our views and unaccepting of other people's opinions. What's more, we don't hesitate to share our views in the most public of forums. "We" are always right and everyone else is wrong.
It's time we went from taking selfies to choosing selflessness, from practicing self-care to caring for others.
It was Ghandi who said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
This week's #HappyAct is to change the #JustMe narrative and find happiness by looking outward instead of in.
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