COVER STORY
“Why was I born?”
“I am useless.”
“My life has no purpose.”
“This world is full of traitors; there are no sincere people here.”
You can often hear such sentiments echoing around you. The youth of today is stuck in the quicksand of hopelessness. At a very tender age, when the world has not even completely unfolded its mysteries on them, they lament the reality that they exist!
They fall prey to this despair, despite the fact that youth is the peak phase of one’s life: the mind is fresh and the body is strong. All far-sighted leaders have particularly focused on the well-being of their nation’s youth. For instance, a major portion of Allama Iqbal’s poetry revolves around awakening the youth and making them realize their purpose in life. But why is the youth so depressed and downhearted? Let’s take a look at some of the reasons.
The young generation are following the wrong ideals. More than the virtues and attributes of a person, they are impressed by how someone walks and talks. As for a person who is appealing in this regard, his “followers” try to copy him in all aspects.
This is irrespective of the fact that the said person might not be humble and polite towards his friends and family, and he might not possess a decent character.
And when the youth fails to copy their role model – by going to the same gym as the celebrity, restraining themselves from eating anything but a specific diet, and even taking anabolic steroids but failing to get the same bulky biceps as the person in question – they are depressed! There is so much more to a person than their outward appearance; this is what many people fail to understand.
Social media has had a massive impact on the lives and minds of individuals, particularly the youth. Too many of the social networking sites have “chained” users; they are unable to think about anything beyond the confines of the addictive social media platforms. Ponder over a very common situation: the moment one puts his mobile phone away, there is a ping or a buzz. Someone had just uploaded a story or shared a snap. Then, an irresistible desire to view that post follows. This perpetual cycle repeats itself, and hours are spent on social media platforms. Since time is limited, this means that there is less time left for any productive activity or even for completing tasks. Deadlines for assignments are not met; preparation for exams is not up to the mark. All this leads to never-ending stress and dejection.
The concerning and mentally exhausting issue of peer pressure might not be a new one, but now being linked to the digital world, it can be even more toxic for impressionable minds.
Take, for instance, the content people post on their social media accounts. Anyone who has had some sort of experience using any of the social media apps – Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook – can surmise that everyone looks so happy and content with their lives in all their posts online. But they are certainly not! Life has its ups and downs for everyone. We often hear news about celebrities – people who most of us consider the “blessed ones” – facing mental health issues or personal turmoil. But a social media enthusiast who sees so many people enjoying an ideal life whereas he, himself, is coping with the tough reality of life is likely to feel depressed. The more the use of social media by today’s youth, the more the feeling of being the only one oppressed in a world full of happy people.
Negative feelings and perceptions cast a shadow on the minds of many young people. Instead of feeling blessed for everything that they have, one laments his fate for not having what his friends have. In a world full of materialism, where money is believed to be everything – happiness, power, and respect – the lust to amass more and more of it is stressing. This is coupled with the habit to showing off one’s extravagant spendings.
Ultimately, many young people go beyond their means and force their parents to buy them a top-notch mobile phone or the fanciest clothes. In no time, they notice one of their friends has an even better accessory (or maybe they perceive it to be better than what they possess) or the brand launches a new model of that gadget.
Something that was once desired so earnestly ceases to have any importance, and their eyes are fixed on the new arrival in the market! As a result, the person who has fallen in the trap of materialism is seldom happy over what he has.
Emotions are at their peak in teenage and early adulthood. However, the media, inspired by Western culture, has taught the youth neither to keep those emotions restrained, nor to consult an elder. A boy and a girl, not yet mature enough to think rationally, promise each other partnership for life; then, in the blink of an eye, emotions take a new turn and there is a breakup, bringing with it frustration for both individuals. Such happenings are becoming more and more common today.
To start with, there is a need to set the ideals right. It doesn’t necessarily mean that someone who is a character also has a character. Look for people who have good character and personalities, and try to follow them. Remember, polishing one from the inside is as important, if not more, than the outward appearance.
Furthermore, there is a need to limit the time that is spent on social media. The many social networking sites will always have something new to offer; it is up to each one of us to decide what our priorities are and take out time for social media accordingly.
Also, a shift in perspectives is the need of the hour. Understand that earning money is a part of life but money is not life! Greed and desire for more are never-ending; don’t become a slave to your desires. Count Allah’s blessings upon you and learn to be happy with what you have. Happiness and respect are things that cannot be bought! And learn to restrain your emotions. Everything has its time, and it is best to do something at its specific time. In your youth, you have your academic and career goals ahead; a breakup at this stage does not mean that you have lost the purpose in your life! If you grow up to become a successful person, people will want to be friends with you. However, if in the apparent glamour of youth you were to derail from your goals, you would lose your future prospects, and most of your friends as well!
All of us profess our belief that everything that is written in the Holy Qur’an is true. It is written in the Qur’an: “Do not lose hope, nor be sad…” (3:139). Why is it, then, that the majority of us have lost hope and do not expect anything good to happen to us? The Qur’an also says that “And Allah is the best of planners” (3:54 and 8:30). Why is it, then, that most of us have lost faith in our destiny?
In a nutshell, every cloud has a silver lining. It is our duty to focus on that silver lining instead of lamenting the dark cloud. Young people face so many challenges that they end up struggling with depression and getting derailed from their path. Today is the right time to recognize those challenges and muster the courage to tackle them head-on. All your efforts count. Take one whole-hearted step to improve your situation and Allah’s help will definitely come your way!
