What is true Happiness in this Digital Era? /  by Dena Mekawi

I think we each have our own perception of happiness. Many strive to achieve happiness on different levels. Some go to great measures in the pursuit of happiness. But what is real happiness? Is happiness a state of mind, or a constant ongoing mission that we all attempt to fulfill. Is this generation so focused on short-term happiness that we forget to seek long-term, valuable happiness? Are we prone to the constant instant gratification, the unrealistic expectations that social media portrays everyone's lives to appear so perfect, that we strive to feel that happiness? 

I think when we step back happiness needs to be non-tangible. Happiness knows you have tomorrow to fix today's mistakes. Happiness is knowing that that person left your life for reasons only God knows is best for you. We each must attempt to seek happiness within ourselves, and stop trying to seek happiness from others. Happiness understands that no ones life is perfect, but we each have something to be thankful for. Happiness knows you made a difference in someone's life. Happiness is finding those that inspire you, helping someone that needs your guidance. Happiness starts with you. 

Self-Esteem Issues /  by Dena Mekawi

Self-esteem means the positivity of a person’s self-concept. For example, a person who has a low self-esteem thinks that they will not perform well in a certain task.  Then, on the other hand, a person who has a high self-esteem thinks the opposite and might think even a bit more of them.  Often self-esteem is related to the acceptance of others.

Marketing communications can influence in a person’s self-esteem. It can trigger a social comparison and dissemination of ideal images between people.  This is usually because of the advertisements we see. Often it’s an attractive model using different kinds of products such as mascara or lotion.

 

Also, it’s common that the economic situation mirrors the ideals that people form. When the economic situation is a bit better people prefer to mature features and in a depression, the preference is to less mature features.

 

To achieve these features that people desire and look up to, people are willing to go extreme. In some cases people rely on plastic surgery, to get instant effects, but in some cases when one’s body image is distorted the risks are for example different kinds of eating disorders. Also, the westernized way to advertise and usage of photo alteration programs, such as Photoshop, almost too much in some cases, doesn’t encourage people to think things in a “normal way”… On the other hand what is the normal way to think things in general?