What if we stopped normalising suffering?
Have you ever wondered why certain struggles in life are just accepted as "normal"? Whether it’s working ourselves to exhaustion, relying on maladaptive coping mechanisms, or enduring systems that don’t serve us, we’ve grown accustomed to accepting suffering rather than questioning it.
But what if there’s another way? What if the difficulties we experience aren’t just inevitable but are products of the environments and systems we’ve created? It’s time to challenge the status quo and ask, “What if things could change?”
This blog explores key aspects of our daily lives that we’ve normalised and the possibilities that arise when we dare to imagine something different.
Normalising Exhaustion in the Workplace
For many of us, the hustle-and-grind mentality has become second nature. Long hours, dwindling time with loved ones, and constant stress are labelled as the price of ambition or success. But why?
What if work didn’t have to push us to our limits? Imagine a world where productivity wasn’t measured in unrelenting hours but in the quality of work produced. A world where workplaces offered flexibility, recognised the importance of mental health, and allowed for balance. Countries like Denmark and Sweden are already leading this charge with shorter workweeks and higher employee satisfaction. Could we rethink our own models to prioritise well-being over burnout?
The next time you find yourself working late or answering emails long past hours, question if that's truly the way it should be.
The Role of Social Media in Maladaptive Behaviours
Ever felt like everything offline seems...boring? Social media has capitalised on our brain’s craving for stimulation, feeding us content designed to spike dopamine levels and making slower, more reflective experiences feel dull by comparison.
But here’s a thought: What if inattentiveness or sensory sensitivity isn’t something we’re inherently born with but instead a response to this hyper-stimulating environment we’ve created? If that’s the case, the good news is, it isn’t permanent. By reclaiming our focus and setting boundaries around screen time, we can rewire our brains to appreciate life’s subtler joys.
What if “digital detoxing” became the norm rather than a privilege? What if technology were designed to support, rather than dominate, our mental rhythms?
Rethinking Education
The education system as we know it was built for a completely different era. Long hours of sitting still, memorising endless information, and standardised learning methods prepare children for...well, not much that resembles real life. Yet, we’ve accepted this as the only way to educate.
What if it didn’t have to be this way? Imagine an education system that prioritised critical thinking over rote memorisation, creativity over conformity, and movement over rigid desk seating. What if children learned in environments aligned with their developmental needs?
Take Finland, for example, where education focuses on collaborative play, shorter school hours, and mixed-age learning. Students not only rank high academically but also report higher levels of happiness. It’s time to stop branding attachment behaviours in children as “clingy” or “problematic.” Instead, we should design systems that foster healthy, secure relationships and lifelong curiosity.
The question isn’t whether the current system works; it’s whether it serves the children it’s meant to benefit.
Movement as a Lifestyle, Not a Luxury
For many, exercise has become a chore to “tick off” after an otherwise sedentary day. We work behind desks, sit in traffic, and only find time to move when we carve out an hour for the gym. But what if movement were an innate part of our day-to-day lives instead of something we pay membership fees for?
Our ancestors moved naturally throughout the day, whether hunting, gathering, or simply living. This is still true in many cultures that prioritise walking, stretching, and natural postures over sedentary lifestyles.
What would our world look like if cities were designed for walking, cycling, and outdoor activity? If modern living encouraged physical engagement rather than confining us to chairs? Beyond the physical benefits, movement enhances cognitive function, reduces stress, and helps us connect with others.
Could making movement a natural rhythm of daily life transform not only our bodies but our minds as well?
Breaking Free from the Normalisation of Suffering
The patterns we see as “normal” today are often coping mechanisms that help us survive environments and systems that don’t serve us. But coping isn’t thriving. By questioning the systems that enforce suffering, we can begin to imagine better alternatives.
At work, challenge the idea that success must come at the expense of well-being. Advocate for flexibility, fair workloads, and a culture of balance.
With technology, take control of your digital habits to prioritise meaningful engagement over mindless scrolling.
In education, support progressive models that value creativity, collaboration, and individual development.
When it comes to movement, return to the basics. Find joy in walking, stretching, and integrating activity into your day-to-day life.
Every great change begins with this single, radical question: What if?
Daring to Dream a Better Future
If we stopped normalising exhaustion, inattention, outdated systems, and sedentary living, we could create a world that works with our natural rhythms and desires rather than against them.
Change starts with awareness. Start asking these “what if” questions for yourself, your family, and your community. You might be surprised by the answers you find.
What do you think? Is it time to stop settling and start imagining new ways of living? Share your thoughts below or with your circle.