Is economic output more important than your well-being?? Much of American culture & societal norms seem to point in that direction. Your thoughts?
For example, in the United States, the standard for maternity leave is shockingly short compared to other developed nations, with many new mothers returning to work just WEEKS after giving birth. This practice not only neglects the physical recovery of the mother but also disrupts the critical bonding period between mother and child, which is essential for healthy emotional and psychological development. This can have detrimental impacts both short-term AND long-term not just on the mother and child, but the ripple effect costs society at large in the long run. The societal expectation that women should quickly return to productivity without sufficient support reflects this dysfunctional (in my humble opinion) “normal” mentality (insert sarcasm).
Dr. Gabor Maté, a renowned expert on trauma and mental health, argues that much of what we consider "normal" in society is, in fact, DEEPLY PATHOLOGICAL. He highlights how trauma is not just a result of extreme events but is also embedded in the very fabric of our daily lives. For example, the pressures to conform to societal norms, suppress emotions, and maintain an appearance of success can lead to disconnection from our authentic selves, resulting in CHRONIC STRESS, ANXIETY, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. Maté emphasizes that the widespread prevalence of addiction, depression, and anxiety is not a sign of individual failure but rather a reflection of A SOCIETY THAT FAILS TO MEET FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEEDS of connection, meaning, and belonging.
In this context, being "well-adjusted" often means adapting to unhealthy environments, relationships, and expectations. It might involve numbing oneself to the injustices and inequalities that persist in our society, or ignoring the toll that constant stress and overwork take on our bodies and minds. TRUE HEALTH, as Maté and others suggest, involves not just the absence of disease but the presence of a fulfilling, balanced life that honors our emotional, psychological, and physical needs. Therefore, challenging societal norms and advocating for systemic change, such as more supportive maternity leave policies or greater recognition of trauma's impact on health, becomes crucial in fostering a society where true well-being is the standard.
Let’s now talk about how much this “normal society” is costing us, shall we? In a published study titled “The productivity argument for investing in young children” (Heckman, J. J., & Masterov, D. V., Review of Agricultural Economics, 2007), the authors argue that early attachment and cognitive development have a significant impact on future societal outcomes, such as educational attainment, workforce productivity, and crime rates. They suggest that early interventions, including policies that allow for proper maternal bonding time, reduce the likelihood of future social dysfunction, such as higher crime rates and increased social welfare dependency. This article states, “We argue that, on productivity grounds, it makes sense to invest in young children from disadvantaged environments. Substantial evidence shows that these children are more likely to commit crime, have out-of-wedlock births, and drop out of school. Early interventions that partially remediate the effects of adverse environments can reverse some of the harm of disadvantage and have a high economic return. They benefit not only the children themselves, but also their children, as well as society at large.”
In another study published in Child Development titled "Attachment in the early life course: Meta-analytic evidence for its role in socioemotional development." (Groh, A. M., Fearon, R. M. P., van IJzendoorn, M. H., Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J., & Roisman, G. I., 2017) the authors examine the long-term effects of early attachment on socioemotional development and behavioral outcomes. Their analysis includes over 7,000 participants and shows that secure attachment in early childhood is strongly associated with positive socioemotional outcomes, including lower levels of externalizing behaviors such as aggression and delinquency in later childhood and adolescence. The study also highlights that insecure attachment, which can result from disrupted maternal bonding or insufficient maternal leave, is associated with higher rates of externalizing problems and difficulties in peer relationships. These behaviors are significant predictors of later involvement in antisocial activities and potential criminal behavior.
Personally, I’m sickened by our society….work, work, work…rush, rush, rush…distract, distract, distract from what REALLY MATTERS! Relationships matter. Your health matters. Slowing down matters. Actually HEARING YOUR OWN INNER VOICE matters. Leave it to the media and the endless scroll to drown out your inner voice…that innate inner knowingness that KNOWS the truth. “The truth shall set you free”. Listen for it. Sit in silence for just 10 minutes a day and see what happens. I dare you. It’s sad to say that most of us get super squirrely while sitting in silence for more than a couple minutes. We’ve lost our way. Recalibrate. Find it again. When you start to hear the whispers of truth within you again, your heart, your mind, and your gut align. When that happens, look out! You’re back in the driver’s seat again…being navigated by truth rather than somebody else's agenda. YOU HAVE MORE POWER THAN YOU THINK!
(Side note: the original statement is paraphrased from this quote by Jiddu Krishnamurti who said, “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.”)