If you could be alive at any time in history, when would it be?
Would you choose to live right now?
Objectively, things aren’t easy for most of us right now. We’re facing social, economic, health, and environmental crises.
With all the chaos of today, it can be tempting to lean on nostalgia and believe previous generations had it better or easier. And it can make us long for what seem like simpler times.
In fact, our brains are wired to see the past more fondly than the present. We naturally remember the “golden days” of youth as being greater than they were when we lived them.
We tend to do the exact opposite when we look at the present, focusing more on the negative things.
It’s no wonder, then, that more Americans think we’re worse off today than we were 50 years ago.
Is that true?
Most evidence says they’re wrong—that life in the past was actually more difficult. It was shorter, poorer, sicker, and more dangerous for most people.
That’s why we are living through the greatest time ever in human history, experts say.
So, why doesn’t it feel like that sometimes?
Why don’t many of us feel like this is the best time ever to be alive?
We may be too focused on the details to see the big picture. With a look at how far we’ve come, we can more clearly see how good we have it and how things, in many ways, really are getting better.
Let’s be frank: things are far from perfect. The chaos of the day makes that loud and clear. But the volume of the chaos amplifies the problems of the present and mutes the amazing progress made in recent generations.2
By most standards, we’re living longer, happier, better lives than our great-great-grandparents did.
That can be easy to lose sight of with bad-news cycles and an endless parade of scary headlines.
Pair that with a sour economic mood, and pessimism skyrockets. We’re far less likely to be positive about progress and life today when we don’t feel good about current economic conditions.
Why does that matter?
After all, some pessimism can be a good thing. It can make us cautious and attentive to risks that we may want to avoid.
Too much pessimism, however, can lead to fear and feelings of futility. If fear sparks panic, we freeze and can end up missing important opportunities.
You can counteract that by being mindful of the big picture. If you can temper pessimism with a little optimism, you can find meaning in adversity and build resilience. You may also be able to recognize opportunities others overlook, make better decisions, and achieve better outcomes.
As an adviser, I see how people’s outlooks affect their financial choices. I’m here to provide perspective so it’s easier to look at the big picture and make decisions that will better support your long-term objectives.
If you’ve been feeling uneasy or frustrated about how things are going, call me at 908-663-2125 and let’s chat. I’m ready to listen and share some advice that could help you see things in a different light.
