Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Andthosesamenarrativesarestillcirculating:tobeacoolguy,youhavetopartylikearockstar;toberespected,youhavetobeadmiredbywomen;sexisthemostvaluablethingamancanattain,andit’sworthsacrificinganything(includingyourowndignity)togetit.

           Thisconstantstreamofunrealisticmediadogpilesontoourexistingfeelingsofinsecurity,byoverexposingustotheunrealisticstandardswefailtoliveupto.Notonlydowefeelsubjectedtounsolvableproblems,butwefeellikelosersbecauseasimpleGooglesearchshowsusthousandsofpeoplewithoutthosesameproblems.

           Technologyhassolvedoldeconomicproblemsbygivingusnewpsychologicalproblems.TheInternethasnotjustopen-sourcedinformation;ithasalsoopen-sourcedinsecurity,self-doubt,andshame.

           B-b-b-but,IfI’mNotGoingtoBeSpecialorExtraordinary,What’sthePoint?

           Ithasbecomeanacceptedpartofourculturetodaytobelievethatwearealldestinedtodosomethingtrulyextraordinary.Celebritiessayit.Businesstycoonssayit.Politicianssayit.EvenOprahsaysit(soitmustbetrue).Eachandeveryoneofuscanbeextraordinary.Wealldeservegreatness.

           Thefactthatthisstatementisinherentlycontradictory—afterall,ifeveryonewereextraordinary,thenbydefinitionnoonewouldbeextraordinary—ismissedbymostpeople.Andinsteadofquestioningwhatweactuallydeserveordon’tdeserve,weeatthemessageupandaskformore.

           Being“average”hasbecomethenewstandardoffailure.