The Pressure to Be Resilient Won’t Save Us From Anxious Futures

Eleanor Gordon-Smith’s advice column offers words of comfort to those struggling with anxiety about the future. However, her suggestion that finding others who share our worries is key overlooks the more fundamental issue: our collective expectation to be resilient in the face of uncertainty.

The anxieties of a 21-year-old writer are not unique – climate change, job insecurity, and social isolation are concerns shared by many young adults today. We’ve come to view anxiety as a personal failing rather than a symptom of societal problems. Gordon-Smith’s advice perpetuates this idea that individuals can simply face problems together and emerge stronger.

But what happens when the problems themselves are systemic? When AI threatens entire industries, making it harder for aspiring writers and artists to make a living? When climate change looms over every aspect of our lives? In such cases, “facing problems together” becomes a euphemism for ignoring the system’s fundamental flaws.

The pressure to be resilient has become a toxic expectation. We’re expected to put on a brave face, focus on what we can control, and ignore structural issues contributing to anxiety. This approach ignores the fact that many anxieties are legitimate – climate change is real, job insecurity is rising, and social isolation is growing.

Rather than urging young people to find others who feel as they do, perhaps we should be asking why so many are struggling with anxiety in the first place. What about our current societal structures makes it difficult for young adults to navigate their futures with confidence? Is it lack of job security, student debt, or something more fundamental?

The truth is, we can’t simply face problems together when they’re rooted in systemic inequalities and environmental degradation. Instead, we need to address the root causes of anxiety – not just for individuals but for society as a whole.

Young adults today are growing up in a world where uncertainty has become the norm. Climate change affects everything from food production to housing security. The job market is increasingly precarious, with gig economy workers facing insecurity and lack of benefits. Social isolation is on the rise as people struggle to connect in a world dominated by screens.

This anxious generation has been told repeatedly that they need to be resilient – adapt, innovate, and thrive in a rapidly changing world. But what about those who can’t afford to be adaptable? What about those already struggling to make ends meet?

The expectation of resilience is cruel, assuming individuals have the resources and support networks necessary to cope with uncertainty. For many young adults today, that’s just not the case.

Resilience has become a commodity, something bought and sold like any other product. We’re told we need to cultivate resilience to succeed – but what does that really mean? Is it about developing coping strategies or ignoring systemic issues contributing to anxiety?

The cost of resilience is high, particularly for those marginalized or excluded from mainstream society. It requires emotional labor that can be exhausting and draining. When we fail to cultivate resilience – when we’re unable to face problems together or adapt to changing circumstances – we’re often told it’s our own fault.

But what if we’re asking the wrong question? What if, instead of trying to cultivate resilience, we should address the root causes of anxiety in the first place?

Recognizing that young adults’ anxieties are legitimate is crucial. Acknowledging climate change, job insecurity, and social isolation as interconnected issues requiring a collective response is essential. We must work towards a future that’s more equitable, sustainable, and just for all.

That’s the only way we’ll truly be able to face our problems together – by addressing the root causes of anxiety rather than trying to cultivate resilience in a world determined to drive us mad.