The American way of life:
It seems so many people around me are more often than not happy. Their moods are consistently good, they do not question their love for more money and more things (and indeed appear to define success and get real lasting self-esteem from this very act of accrual), sports, cars, beauty, technology, celebrity culture, Facebook etc., and to top it off, often times are just blissfully unaware of their own stinking entitlement.
Is it just pathetically, painfully true that Americans get their self-esteem by comparing themselves to others with "less"? And furthermore, should I just give up and conform and be a narcissist like everyone else (e.g.competing, back-stabbing, greedy, paranoid, disconnected, obsessed), or continue to suffer more by psychologically fighting the very system I've been conditioned to squeeze self-esteem from? Is it even possible for someone with eyes open to be emotionally healthy here?
So someone in the cyber-verse please help me.Is my cynicism about modern American culture true or am I distorting things (e.g.looking at things through a depressive "lens," being a victim complainer, being resentful). I do recognize the strengths of America, cutting edge medical technology (for the rich and the insured anyways), the civil rights movement, etc. But there seems to be a horrible spiritual void here, manifested by being inauthentic, fueled by lack of self-awareness.
>>> AMERICAN CULTURE AND WAY OF LIFE?