Once, people aspired to raise decent families, do honest work, educate their children and, perhaps, leave behind a little more than they inherited. Few felt compelled to become remarkable. The extraordinary existed, but it stood out precisely because society considered ordinary lives honourable.

Somewhere along the way, that balance changed.

Today, being exceptional no longer appears to be an aspiration. It often feels like a requirement.

Children are expected to excel not merely in academics, but also in sports, music, coding and communication. Young professionals are encouraged to become thought leaders before they have had the chance to become thoughtful people. Entrepreneurs are urged to build unicorns rather than durable businesses. Employees are advised to cultivate personal brands. Retirees are told that ageing itself must become a project. Even hobbies seem incomplete unless they evolve into side hustles or content channels.

Without any public debate or formal announcement, society has quietly raised the minimum standard for feeling successful.

The Burden Of Exceptionalism

The consequences are visible everywhere. Despite unprecedented prosperity, opportunities and technological convenience, many people carry a lingering sense that they are somehow falling behind. Achievement has become increasingly accompanied by anxiety. Satisfaction appears strangely elusive. There is always another benchmark, another comparison and another expectation waiting around the corner.

Previous generations compared themselves with neighbours and colleagues. Their reference points were local and finite. The modern citizen inhabits an entirely different world. Through screens that never........

© Free Press Journal