If you ask a lot of people if they love the life they're living, 70% will probably say no. This is because a lot of people are struggling either with health challenges, studies, job problems, financial issues and many other things.
10% of the remaining 30% will say something like "maybe" and only 20% will probably say yes. Now a lot these 20% of people are not completely okay, but then, they might just do so because they're contented, they feel they're not worse off, and probably won't mind having a better life.
There's no questioning the fact that a lot of people are going through financial situation as well as health challenges, but there are people who live a relatively stable life that would still come out to say that they want a better life.
This isn't a problem, I think the problem is when people generalize or commonize the problems of those who are truly experiencing the harshest part of reality. I have seen people with a very terrible and hard life, and sometimes it hurts.
This is why I think we don't properly estimate the problems of people who are truly suffering in life, and that's because a lot of people are caught up in the selfish wantings of their already stable life.
For example most of the people I talk to about my health condition, they're either undermining it's impact, or not seeing how it actually impacts my quality of life. I was like this too until I begin to understand the severity of this condition.
Until I began to witness the pain of other, the price they have to pay, the depression that have to go through. To some extent, I listen to a lot of people about my situation, they tell me it's all in my head and I shouldn't be crying as much as I was.
I began to believe them, until I started evaluating my life, getting medical reports, experiencing real near death situations.
I realize that human beings only truly learn by experience. We're never truly empathetic until we experience pain and suffering ourselves, and this is why people with relatively good lives will find it difficult to understand that their lives are better off than a lot of people.
When people make comparisons, we don't weigh people who have it worse, we try to only look at those who have it better, and then weigh out position based off this Intel.
I'm not saying doing otherwise is great in all situations, all I'm saying is that sometimes we don't weigh our situation probably, measures our positions, life and all that, and because of this we tend to lose touch with reality. This isn't just me, this is for everyone.
In reality I've had great experiences and moments in life.
In fact, sometimes I know a lot of people didn't get the opportunities I got, even though I understand the reality of my existence, the pain of knowing that I'm capable of so much, but still fall short regardless.
In my mind, I mostly reflect on my pain and my strength, the good thing that has happened to me and this is how I tend to find peace and gauge my life properly.
Infact I like to think my life has been better than a lot of people with my situation and condition, even though there are people who still have it absolutely better, and then this helps me attain gratitude. I think gratitude can help anyone achieve empathy. Insead of overlooking the situation of others, we can actually truly show empathy when we're actually sensitive and grateful.
