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It may be possible, but that's not how most people _usually_ cope.

s1artibartfast 5y ago
I think the increasingly typical coping mechanism of disassociating from the present and looking to the future is a fundamental part of the problem. More people would be happy if they found ways to engage with the present and find meaning and small pleasures in it, despite its defects. Deferring happiness to the future, until one has bought x, or achieved y, is a recipe for disaster. Deferred happiness is a never ending treadmill. Once you believe your happiness is contingent, there will always be a new excuse. Depression affects the wealthy as well as the poor.
- DarylZero 5y ago
  It's not generally possible "to engage with the present and find meaning and small pleasures in it" when the present is time-pressure stress with constant high adrenaline levels. You can _disengage from the present_ and obtain relaxation that way, but the adrenaline is there for a reason, to focus the mind and obtain high performance for high stakes situations. But like I said people normally cope with such by imagining a future (realistic or not) that gives meaning to the high stress present. The present isn't "small pleasures" but _is_ part of an internal narrative about the future and therefore meaningful. > Depression affects the wealthy as well as the poor Yes, but at roughly half the rate.
  - s1artibartfast 5y ago
    >Yes, but at roughly half the rate. That doesn't hold up when you look across the globe, which is my main point. A poor American is still in the global 1%. What people lack is a sense of purpose in their lives, and meaningful connection to friends, family, and community. They desire stability and security. These needs are not met by being one rung higher on a consumerist hamster wheel. Buying A new car, larger house, or next hedonistic escape from reality is not a durable solution. Money might help on the margin, but something is rotten at a deeper social level. People also need to change how they live their lives, and focus their attention on things that will actually make them happy.
    - DarylZero 5y ago
      > A poor American is still in the global 1%. America's population is 4% of the world, and the poverty line is below the 25th percentile, so NONE of America's poor are in the global 1%. > That doesn't hold up when you look across the globe, which is my main point. Poverty is relative because poverty is social exclusion. Social exclusion from the very things you talk about: > a sense of purpose in their lives, and meaningful connection to friends, family, and community [...] stability and security. Poor Americans are excluded from all of these things, same as poor people anywhere else -- even though poor Americans have a level of consumption that may be higher than elsewhere. Also the absolute consumption level is really irrelevant. The instability and unreliability of access to housing dominates every other aspect of consumption.

I think the increasingly typical coping mechanism of disassociating from the present and looking to the future is a fundamental part of the problem. More people would be happy if they found ways to engage with the present and find meaning and small pleasures in it, despite its defects. Deferring happiness to the future, until one has bought x, or achieved y, is a recipe for disaster. Deferred happiness is a never ending treadmill. Once you believe your happiness is contingent, there will always be a new excuse. Depression affects the wealthy as well as the poor.

DarylZero 5y ago
It's not generally possible "to engage with the present and find meaning and small pleasures in it" when the present is time-pressure stress with constant high adrenaline levels. You can _disengage from the present_ and obtain relaxation that way, but the adrenaline is there for a reason, to focus the mind and obtain high performance for high stakes situations. But like I said people normally cope with such by imagining a future (realistic or not) that gives meaning to the high stress present. The present isn't "small pleasures" but _is_ part of an internal narrative about the future and therefore meaningful. > Depression affects the wealthy as well as the poor Yes, but at roughly half the rate.
- s1artibartfast 5y ago
  >Yes, but at roughly half the rate. That doesn't hold up when you look across the globe, which is my main point. A poor American is still in the global 1%. What people lack is a sense of purpose in their lives, and meaningful connection to friends, family, and community. They desire stability and security. These needs are not met by being one rung higher on a consumerist hamster wheel. Buying A new car, larger house, or next hedonistic escape from reality is not a durable solution. Money might help on the margin, but something is rotten at a deeper social level. People also need to change how they live their lives, and focus their attention on things that will actually make them happy.
  - DarylZero 5y ago
    > A poor American is still in the global 1%. America's population is 4% of the world, and the poverty line is below the 25th percentile, so NONE of America's poor are in the global 1%. > That doesn't hold up when you look across the globe, which is my main point. Poverty is relative because poverty is social exclusion. Social exclusion from the very things you talk about: > a sense of purpose in their lives, and meaningful connection to friends, family, and community [...] stability and security. Poor Americans are excluded from all of these things, same as poor people anywhere else -- even though poor Americans have a level of consumption that may be higher than elsewhere. Also the absolute consumption level is really irrelevant. The instability and unreliability of access to housing dominates every other aspect of consumption.