It is indeed wonderful to see this issue receive wide attention. Of course few are willing to forego the distractions, either positively or negatively valenced, that our, or any, social order provides.

Howard Hughes, at one time the richest man in the world, died at the age of 70 essentially of malnutrition and neglect, thus disproving two widely accepted maxims: "He who dies with the most toys wins." and "You can't be too rich nor too thin."

In my opinion it's an empirical question whether we are responsible for our actions or not. Neuroscience, physics and biology will eventually probably come to some understanding of free-will. I think it is an open scientific question whether it really is society's fault. It might turn out to be society's fault, it might genetics - it's probably a combination of both.

The more we understand about how the brain functions and what its structure is, and the more we understand how genetics and society build and change the brain, the less room there is for a freely independent "I" making decisions.

This is nothing new to Buddhist traditions, which teach that the "self" is an illusion.

I think that the problem is really more complicated. Over several years of teaching college English, I found that a majority of 18 year olds claimed to have no interests beyond being entertained. They had nothing they actively wanted to be doing. Given the option of reading anything they wanted for class, they preferred to read a default selection made by me. These students weren't against pursuing some alternative; they honestly didn't know of any. I always tried to encourage these students to explore their options, but they frequently resisted this encouragement because they were worried about wasting time, not graduating promptly, losing a job opportunity to someone who was more focused.

These are the people who get to age 40 and finally want to get off the treadmill and pursue their dreams. They have finally figured out an alternative.

How can individuals pursue their dreams if they don't have any? Sometimes one has to run in the rat race before gaining the drive necessary to envision an alternative.

But I wonder how many people who are in their 40's -- and who are resentful of the suckiness of their lives -- know what they would rather be doing?? It's all well and good to tell people to go out and pursue their dreams. But what if a person doesn't have any?

I was laid off from my cube and followed what I wanted - best thing I ever did. Life is not about money - you can always get money if you really look and don't turn your nose up at work. Even in this economy. Life is about bettering yourself as a person to the best of your ability and interacting with the world as it comes. YOU decide. No one else can decide or react for you.

There is a basic problem with your premise here, and that's the fact that a person needs a basic income to survive, and for many of us in this failed economy, just to acquire the basic necessities is an incredibly difficult task. You would probably say that to define yourself by your profession is an essential mistake, but some people really are defined by what they do. I've worked as a graphic artist for 25 years, but lost my job over a year ago and no one is hiring. I'm defined by my profession, because I have spent my entire adult life attempting to position myself as a working artist earning the minimum to survive in society. To have a rewarding life, certain necessities must be met, such as food, shelter and having enough to support your family. Due to economic pressure, I've lost my job, my house and my family. I currently work a non-skilled, minimum wage job, as that is all that is available. When you are a person who has spent their life pursuing a career out of a passion for the work, have an outstanding portfolio but can't even get a job interview, happiness or satisfaction are not part of the picture. I owned a house, now I can't even afford to rent my own apartment and live with relatives to survive, so tell me, how am I supposed to be happy when most days I can't find a reason to live?

Fascinating discussion. There is one great equalizer in this whole equation and it's called...CHOICE. Before one comments on an article like this, they must do a self agonzing appraisal of the choices they have made during their life that got them to this point. Did you make bad financial choices? Did you choose not to persue a formal education? While you were in high school did you study and prepare yourself to go to college? Did you marry your spouse for their looks or what they could bring to the table? When offered opportunities to look at ways to make more money, did you turn it down without finding out more about it?

The beautiful thing about choice is that from this point on we can make better choices. Based on what we done in the past, it may be difficult, but it can be done. The first choice we need to decide on is that we will stop blaming others for our situation. There's an old saying that says the books you read and the people you associate with will have a big influence on where you'll be 5 years from now. Who are your current associations? If there are people that come here from other countries and make it, certainly we who were born here don't have a lot of excuses. Are you willing to pay the same price as some of our immigrant brothers and sisters? Time will tell.

I loved your direct approach..­..........­........in your article it helped clarify many issues.

I got off my butt today and took action and I was rewarded by a positive outcome

Best wishes

There's only two things in life that I consider worth pursuing. One, personal development ("Become the one you are"). Two, personal relations (with friends, family and significant others).

And while we attempt to develop ourselves and our relations, it's just become increasingly difficult to not get distracted, whether by culture (pleasure or fear), or by needs that aren't truly needs.

The only real way to get past this (which is a battle you have to fight for the rest of your life to a varying degree) is to be responsible. Though it helps tremendously to be responsible for a good cause, and to keep that cause in mind as much as possible. What that is for each of us differs, of course, but it is still important.

E + R = O
Event + Reaction = Outcome.

In the case of an event (flat tire), how you react to it (anger, helplessness, acceptance) = how the outcome will be. bad mood, depressed or relief it wasn't on the highway.

If we look at each event and consider our reaction, the result will be dependant on you and your reaction. We have the power in our lives to be either reactive or proactive. We can choose to be angry and accept all the bad feelings it brings or we can be more like the willow tree and bend. Society does not have control over how you react-only you do!
Namaste'

The other thing that's kinda funny with this article is that the whole thing is caveat against our modern materialistic society. He seems to be saying that if we, all of us individuals who make up this society, stopped all our endless greedy covetousness, we would get what we want out of life. And he's right, if ALL of us stopped, we wouldn't having others stealing behind our backs or making it difficult for our fellow human beings. But if SOME of us stop, it's a tooth and nail fight to get what you want. You do it, or you don't, but if you do, you do it with tenacity and ferocity. THAT is a difficulty NOT talked about in this article.

“So let's try being more blunt: if you want a better experience of life, live it!”
As the Wizard of Oz once succinctly observed. Heart size is not measured by how much someone loves. But rather, by how much that someone is loved.

“I know of people with no bills who still worry, and those with huge bills who also worry.”
It is said that when you owe the bank a hundred dollars, you tend to worry.
But when you owe the bank a hundred million dollars, they tend to worry.

“some sort of failure because I didn't live up to societies brainwashing”
Then stop sending your brain out to be washed. If it needs washing, wash it yourself.

I grew up in the United States: born in D.C., moved to Denver, Houston, Pittsburgh, New Jersey, Brooklyn, western Massachusetts.

it wasn't until i enrolled in a Ph.D program with quite a few colleagues from many international countries that I heard the phrase, "Americans are the most depressed people I've ever met." It's something I hear from people who come from Latin America, Asia, Africa, and sometimes Europe. Most of the people who say this are from the "third world," or "developing" countries.

I think we are so depressed because we are so obsessed with maximizing happiness. Whether it's through phony personal responsibi­lity/progr­ess narratives like the one in this article, or through "material things."

It's not about happy. It's about living with love and compassion instead of fear. The only sentence that makes any sense in this horrible article is the one about people living in many different ways. If you believe U.S. culture is sick, there are plenty of communities who would agree with you, and help you live with love. Seek them out.

As someone who grew up in the 40's and 50's with absolutely nothing and as a Viet Nam era veteran I am appalled at the whining that is in these postings. My God what the author said went completely over the heads of 90% of you. I didnt know the psyche of so many younger people were so self absorbed and that wallowing in self pity was the ache of the day. GET OVER IT I spent most of my college career pursuing degrees in psychology and sociology and then turned to something else. I am glad I did because I sure would not have wanted to spend my days listening to such down in the mouth drivel. Reread the article again if you didnt get it the first time If you still dont get it then you never will find out what he is saying. Dont blame anyone else for your situation As Sergeant Barnes said to a kid who had just been blown up and was screaming in agony in the Viet Nam Movie Platoon...­..........­. "TAKE THE PAIN!!!!!"

This article is BS.

How do you expect the unemployed, or even the salary slaves living paycheck to paycheck to have a great life experience? Isn't it true that attractive people and high salary earners (anywhere from six figures to millions of dollars a year) have a better life experience than the average Joe? So you're basically saying that having the ability to pay your bills, take vacations, meet and date people from all over the world does not make one's life experience better? That's where all the angst comes from... no matter what decisions a person makes or how hard they try, that kind of life will not come to everyone... hell, it won't come to most people. The only way to really be happy is to have a lot of money, good looks, and power. Then your options are more varied and you can do a lot more than someone who is stuck working 40+ hours a week making someone else rich.