The reward center of my brain is probably all kinds of jacked up, so perhaps people get something from these accomplishments that I do not. However, I agree with you. I have noticed this sentiment is leaking into even otherwise health individuals too -- mainly Gen Z and younger. I guess society is heading towards some massive existential crisis. If AI eventually meets the predictions that some people have, then perhaps the issue will only get worse too.

Im not sure I follow, but I think there is something about it related to either age or generation. It seems like a lot of people are going through life on autopilot without thinking about what they really want, questioning what makes them happy, and ending up very dissatisfied with the results.

I think there is something powerful about feeling like you chose the life you are living among the options available.

No worries, I know I am hard to follow.

Anyway, I think you are absolutely correct. Honestly, what you wrote is an apt description of me. I am in my early 30s, thus all I can truly write about is what I have experienced in my generation.

I feel like I was raised to treat life in an algorithmic sense. If one wants a good life, then as long as he or she follows the given path, then happiness awaits. You know -- be a good person, stay in school, don't do drugs, don't get in trouble, work hard, go to college, get a good job, find a partner and settle down, etc..

Any deviation from the plan was more or less a death sentence -- get in trouble? Congratulations, you threw your life away. Bad grades => no college => "put the fries in the bag."

Obviously, we were somewhat encouraged to follow our dreams. Want to be a rockstar or a professional athlete? Great, but make sure you still stick to the path because if/when your dream likely fails, then at least you have something to fall back on.

So, what did I do? I followed the path the best I could have at the time. What were my results? Well, I make more money the median household income in the US, still technically under six-figures, but I work in the public sector (gov), so it's not the best place for high compensation. What else do I have? Well, I have a romantic relationship with a longterm girlfriend that is kind in a rough patch that we will hopefully work through, I have virtually no friends, no hobbies, no goals, no ambitions, I take "medication" during the day and use cannabis at night to offset the medication's effects just so I am semi-functional enough to work a job that I have grown to hate with every fiber of my being.

So yeah, I did not think my life would end up this way. I suppose I theoretically have to powers to change it, but what do I change it to? I have no idea what I want, I do not know what will make me happy, and I am afraid of whatever changes I make will lead to the same dissatisfying results. So, I am basically just living my life one day at a time until I meet my end.

Does any of that make any sense?