Is the rise of individualism empowering or isolating?

“If they don’t work for you, cut them down.”

As Gen Z and Millennials search for the meaning of a “toxic” experience and find ways to heal, these kinds of mental health tips are getting a lot of attention on Instagram and TikTok.

There are countless accounts that have been established as a safe place for those who need to pat themselves on the back to let go of comfort, wisdom, and anything that hurts them.

One such account is Instagram’s WeTheUrban, which explains that it has around 5,000,000 followers and posts content that is “proven to improve a person’s power by 1000%”.

The popularity of these posts reflects a broader range of attitudinal changes.

Individualism is seen as empowering and facing loneliness in anticipation of connections that are “consistent” and meet “higher standards.”

It is fashionable to distinguish between people and situations.

But does it really help us? If our vision becomes unforgiving and black and white, can we quickly cut someone or something that seems useless to us?

Can you trust the advice you saw online?

good advice to all

Emma, ​​the operator of the wellness platform ThriveSafe, pushes radical narcissistic tendencies shared online by influencers.

“I like a little reminder to step back and think about my feelings right now,” she says.

She believes that Instagram can seem artificial and therefore she is more honest and welcomes such insightful posts.

“I think it’s about sitting down and questioning your thoughts. If there’s a quote you need to hear that day, that’s great,” he adds.

“I’ve read a lot about things that make me feel better in general thinking. Social media can enhance or support some of the ideas I’ve already learned elsewhere.”

Working on these messages reminds you of what is “important.” That is your happiness and happiness in general.

But she is “cautious” and, working with survivors of abuse, she wonders how productive these messages are for everyone they reach.

He affirms:

“So what I’m really doing is presenting them as shared, but with a little bit of context as to why it’s not available to anyone.

For example, when someone shares something the other day and says that you should always believe that your mind is fine, those who have been traumatized think that their minds and minds are a threat, but they really are. So many different things can’t happen. .

“Not everything is regulated, so context is always relevant.”

tolerant society

When we trust our internal organs or open our minds about damaging our peace of mind, we potentially isolate ourselves and withdraw from situations that we might have been able to resolve. ..

Richard Reed, a coaching psychologist at Pinnacle Wellbeing Services, said:

“To us, we’re all different in some way, so clearly we have to strike a balance between standing up for our principles and being completely separate from the rest of the world. I can’t.”

According to him, cancel culture is a classic example of this. It encourages us to “reduce the amount of time we spend exploring different perspectives and look back at our perspectives with something in mind.”

The gray of the situation can be lost and there is a lack of transparency about the consequences of adopting these concepts.

Rarely is it recommended to have a conversation to resolve the issue. It’s about getting things done and “keeping cool.”

Ricardo adds: “Not only are we isolated, but we also run the risk of becoming too attached to existing beliefs.

“This lack of flexibility affects our ability to deal with differences and continue to grow as humans.

“By finding differences, we can explore our overall worldview and challenge and adapt accordingly.

We definitely meet people who are different from us. Learning empathy and pragmatics is essential if you want to build positive relationships with others and avoid conflict and stress.

“Experiencing some discomfort also helps build our psychological resilience in the face of other life challenges.”

healing words

But that’s not all bad: an individualistic approach can be beneficial when taken with a pinch of salt and timidity.

Ali, 38, who lives in London, thinks women in particular have something to do.

He explains: “I agree with this idea of ​​leaving people.

“I think it’s about setting personal boundaries, being less compliant (especially women) and not developing a lack of tolerance.”

“Also, age also affects. A 40-year-old woman who is crazy about this probably won’t end her friendship after reading some advice.”

“For example, the impact of these posts on women in their twenties is different.

“They’ve grown up with that culture and relied on it in another way. They’re thrilled to be driven by it and become a part of trends they understand.”

Even Richard says that he can benefit from using this logic for balance. Be careful Our life.

‘This gives us more control over the impact we are exposed to,” he says.

‘This may mean that we don’t experience the same level of negative thoughts and feelings that we might otherwise find in the rest of the world. Because it limits these triggers. “

Moving to a more individualistic mindset that focuses on healing and happiness really helps, as long as you don’t break the bond, a simple conversation can do the trick.

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