Is Being Too Comfortable Killing Your Happiness?

I live in Denmark, which, for many years, has been ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world. Danes live in a socialist society where free healthcare and education are guaranteed to everyone. Therefore, having a master’s degree is common, and many earn a middle-class salary. Without the burden(груз) of any healthcare or educational debts, people have plenty of disposable income to spend on traveling, restaurants, and other indulgences, and they often report having a healthy work-life balance. This balance ensures high social cohesion(сплоченность), minimal crime, and low levels of intolerance. However, despite these gifts, Denmark has one of the highest anti-depressant rates in the world, and that rate is increasing.

Experts have difficulty understanding this paradox, but I believe the answer is revealed in two quotes from the Batman trilogy.

The Batman trilogy begins where the hero must train martial arts to become his strongest self. With this strength, he fights adversaries(противники) and creates a city of peace where its citizens can prosper(процветать). Afterward, he isolates himself from the world and spends the next ten years enjoying the comforts of his mansion where his muscles and reflexes naturally weaken. This is not a problem until a new villain attacks him and says, “Victory has defeated you.”

Unfortunately, when we are surrounded by privilege designed to protect us and give us a head start, we can often become “weakened,”(ослабленный) just like Batman. Our ability to stand up for ourselves, fight for our passions, and overcome obstacles atrophies and the smallest things can have the power to defeat us. Without a healthy amount of tension(напряжение), we don’t get the opportunity to build a strong mental health defense system for ourselves. Then, when anything bad happens, which creates a natural and normal level of sadness, it is interpreted as depression. Finally, since proper self-help skills aren’t developed, medication is administered, which does not change the situation at all, resulting in people assuming there is something wrong with themselves.

Furthermore, because of all the wonderful privileges one receives when living in Denmark, many develop a lack of appreciation for the bounty(недостаток признательности) they are surrounded by. After all, all things manmade go through inflation and must lose their luster eventually. For example, having a master’s degree is relatively unimpressive since everyone has one. Therefore, having high status requires people to become truly exceptional to rise out of the vast pool of the middle class.

Denmark is an absolute wonder, and I am grateful to be here, but everything comes with a cost. I believe the reason why such a happy and comfortable country has such a high depression rate is exactly because it is so happy and comfortable. Batman was strongest when he had a purpose for building himself. Therefore, do not concern yourself with what others have or what they are doing. None of us have any idea what other people’s inner state is really like. Instead, build only yourself.