In 2024, the average person's attention and focus are up against trillions of dollars and dozens of countries working concertedly to extract as much value from our brains as possible, sucking up our attention as best as they can. It's literraly impossible and logistically infeasible for the average person to fight this.
Since a very young age, men and women are bombarded with idealized portrayals of love and friendship. people in relationships These shows present distorted views of relationships, glamorizing toxic behaviors and unrealistic expectations. From movies, TV shows, and now TikTok and Instagram reels, these platforms flood people with images and videos that shape their views on what relationships should look like,
People might see a 30-second clip of someone buying an expensive gift for their partner, and suddenly you’re comparing your own relationship to this curated, often fake, highlight. People start asking, "Why isn’t my husband or wife doing this for me?" That one TikTok or reel has the power to plant dissatisfaction in someone's mind, despite their partner’s real-life efforts.
People constantly compare everything—lifestyles, vacations, how they’re treated. They’ll see influencers showing off their perfect relationship or a man buying luxury items for his girlfriend and begin to feel their partner is "not enough." It builds unrealistic expectations that most relationships can’t live up to.
There is also this horrible dilemma of cuddling someone’s ideas to gain attention & monetary gain, content creaters might validate someones delusional ideas to gain followers and engagement— It has basically become a playground for people to hype each other up over the most ridiculous, unrealistic expectations. One might post about how their partner that they should be flying them to Paris every weekend, and suddenly the entire comment section is filled with comments such as : Yass! You deserve nothing less!”. Everyone is gassing up each other with this delusional fantasy, when the reality is, they're comparing their life to some fairytale that doesn't even exist.
Why You Should Befriend Your Children Instead of Trying to Change Them
You can't change anyone, not even your children. At the end of the day, people are shaped by their own experiences, not by your attempts to mold them. Whether it's friends, family, or future children, everyone has their own agency and will develop their beliefs based on their interactions and the media they consume. Trying to enforce your views often leads to resistance and frustration.
Instead of worrying about changing the world or others, focus on your own journey and well-being. Recognize the influence of media and invest your energy in understanding yourself, fostering authentic connections with those who align with your values.