Doubt Casts Shadows, Clarity Breeds Results
Growing up, I was always the kid who would run as fast as he could, face-first into a glass door if it looked like a good time, metaphorically, of course. I was fearless, unafraid of the consequences because the fun at the moment was worth whatever came afterward. I often miss that child-like rebellion that makes taking a risk, at full speed, a euphoric experience; the thrill of not knowing is exhilarating. As we get older, most of us often lose the fire to live on the edge largely due to the influence of those around us because being an 'adult', to the masses, is supposed to be based on comfortability and security, not gambling on passion.
What we are seeing now, in present times, is the world waking up to the reality that without risk, your margin for reward is infinitely more narrow. What we are now seeing in society, is a shift in how our youth learn to create their future reality, which will, in turn, shift how the next generation of adults face this reality. Look at Gen Z, with people like iShowSpeed, Adin Ross & Kai Cenat at the forefront, the generation has shining examples of what happens when you create your own reality.
What will be interesting, though, is how this affects the future. As far as cycles go, it’s pretty easy to follow what comes next. The Boomers were the generation born during the Woodstock era of freedom, the generation to see the effects of what living so loosely would bring, which led them to be more focused and easier to manipulate in contrast to the conspiracy theorist skeptics of the generation prior. Next was Gen X, who like their predecessors, were locked in on “the right way” to do things, with structure as a crutch to mask whatever ideas of freedom started floating around. When it came to us Millenials, due to the influence of popular music and culture, we began to break the mold after watching our parents stress boundaries and structure, while the people we looked up to found liberation. As we grew into our adult years, we became the embodiment of liberation and inspired our younger siblings and family members to also lean into liberation. This cycle continues with Gen Alpha and continues until it meets a head where again, the masses will push back against demanding so much freedom, and once again fall into the steps of the Boomers where structure will be a measure of success.
When we were young, we used to hear the elders of the family speak about the changing of culture and society, without the years and experience to fully grasp what they meant. But now, as a 33-year-old man approaching the mountain’s peak, I fully understand what they were describing. Human society moves in waves and when it comes to the demeanor of a generation, it’s largely based on the pitfalls of the one prior. So what does that mean for the future?