Generativity and Legacy

Why is Life Stressful?

When I was invited by the Armed Forces of the Philippines Dental Society to be one of the speakers during their Quarterly Scientific Seminar, I opened my lecture with the question, “Why is life stressful?” Of course, there were dozens of answers from the participants ranging from job-related issues, family, finances and relationships to other trivial matters.

If I were to be asked that same question, my answer would be “unrealistic expectations.” These are expectations we have brutally imposed upon ourselves and those forced by others.

In life, it is an unfortunate reality that many people have become too materialistic and are following a certain pattern which many believe is the only pattern of life. But, life is more than following a strict pattern. People are not robots. We are wonderfully created as unique beings. In life, it is more on the being, not on the doing.

The present definition of success is nothing more than material success. I hope we learned this during this pandemic. At a certain age and status, one is expected to have a nice car, a beautiful house, a wife or a husband, a family and some money in the bank. But it is not always like that. With the world’s standards, one really believes that he is indeed a failure (“kawawa naman ako…” I am pitiful).