Chinese people’s urgent desire to learn to coexist with stress and pursue a more balanced, healthier, and happier life. It can also be seen as a redefined mode of living after understanding one’s own limits.
We are Facing a World of Addiction
Compared to 40 years ago, China’s younger generation today is more depressed, anxious and addicted, and has a higher suicide rate than their grandparents’ generation. One of the main reasons is that they are a generation that pursues pleasure, chasing quick, short-lived gratification in an endless cycle.
And the prevailing trend in China, and indeed globally, is to encourage this pursuit of pleasure and quick success, rather than advocating for patience and the benefits of long-term effort and rewards. We now live in a world saturated with the pursuit of dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical in the brain. Yet the pleasures generated are short-lived and addictive, and the ultimate result of the dopamine rush is often feeling worse than before.
People are glued to screens, passively experiencing the instant but shallow gratification of short videos. The joy of reading, creating the images in our brains ourselves, is growing rarer. People cut off the rest of the world with the screens and noise-canceling headphones and retreat into a mental hole. They grow more isolated and lose the ability to communicate and connect with others. These shifts in behavior are quietly reshaping our brains. Our minds are becoming more accustomed to fast-paced, fragmented information, and increasingly struggle with deep thinking and sustained focus. Increasingly reliant on the “now” experience, we find it harder to savor the sense of fulfillment that comes from delayed rewards, sustained effort and long-term achievements.
Our world today, shaped by capital, technological innovation and rapid development, has created infinite amounts of stimulation of astonishing intensity, spelling-binding novelties and never-ending change. Addiction can now occur in almost every field and aspect of life, and is no longer limited to drugs and alcohol, making it nearly impossible for people to escape. The result is increasing mental health issues among the 18+ and 40+ age groups, which ultimately stem from addiction to that chemical in our brains – dopamine.
From “Extended Family” to “New Family”, Family Connections in Modern Society
The “extended family ethos” in China is gradually fading, a trend inevitable with societal development and the impact of the now-terminated one-child policy. Factors such as urbanization, population mobility, and the rise of nuclear families have made it difficult to sustain the traditional extended family model. Family emotions also play a crucial role in mental health. Therefore, exploring new ways to build family-like bonds or strengthen connections among family members is particularly important in modern society.
Nowadays, some single individuals aged in their 50s or older are choosing to live together to create a “New Family” in companionship for their retirement years. And the next generation of single individuals will likely follow this trend as time goes by.
Perhaps, starting with the 18+ generation, China may witness the emergence of some “new family” models. These “new families” may no longer be confined to blood relations but could include friends, colleagues, neighbors, or anyone with whom we establish deep emotional connections. These “new families” may place greater emphasis on the depth and quality of emotions rather than the number or form of members. Members of such “new families” may share common values and life goals, understanding, supporting, and encouraging one another. Regularly organizing family gatherings, participating in family activities together, paying attention to each other’s interests and hobbies, and mutually expressing care, love, and appreciation can help everyone feel valued. They can support each other in facing life’s challenges and pressures, providing emotional support, a sense of belonging, and enhancing overall happiness.
Although the traditional extended family model is disappearing, the Chinese people’s need for family emotions will never change.
The Mental Wellness Trend in China is Moving Towards: “KNOWING YOUR LIMITS”
China’s mental health trend points towards: “Knowing Your Limits.”
“The interplay of yin and yang, and the reversal at extremes” is a significant concept in ancient Chinese philosophy, revealing the interdependent and transformative nature of all things in the universe. This theory not only applies to the natural world but also provides profound insights for understanding life and pursuing mental health.
“The interplay of yin and yang” means that everything contains two opposing yet unified aspects, such as day and night, joy and sorrow, success and failure. These opposites are not absolute but interdependent and mutually transformative. There is no absolute joy, nor absolute pain; the two are intertwined, forming a complete life experience.
Meanwhile, “the reversal at extremes” reminds us that anything pushed to its limit will reverse its course. Excessive pursuit of happiness can lead to emptiness; excessive obsession with success can result in failure; excessive suppression of emotions can trigger greater psychological issues.
The long-popular slogan “You Can Do It!” has, in China’s rapidly developing society, ultimately become a source of immense pressure for many. As a result, we can see that the new mental health trend, whether among the 60+, 40+, or even the 18+, is pointing towards “Knowing Your Limits.” This shift reflects the Chinese people’s urgent desire to learn to coexist with stress and pursue a more balanced, healthier, and happier life. It can also be seen as a redefined mode of living after understanding one’s own limits.
Therefore, summarizing the common demands of three generations in terms of mental health, they can roughly be divided into the following aspects:
Alleviating Pressure and Destress from All Directions
- Abandon conformity in all aspects of life and embrace individuality.
- Pursue diversified career development to minimize workplace stress.
- Seek solitude and create more personal time.
- Embrace minimalism, reduce material desires, and cut unnecessary consumption.
- Reject excessive competition, accept imperfections, and seek inner peace through a low-stress lifestyle.
- The rise of singlehood as a response to the pressures of marriage and parenting.
- Relieve stress through spa, aromatherapy, meditation, mindfulness practices, and more.
- Pets becoming important companions and emotional support in life.
Social Connections That Suit Individual Needs
- Build circles of friends with shared interests, whether online or offline.
- Strengthen connections with family and children.
- Foster family-like bonds with colleagues and friends through “new family” models.
Caring for Physical and Mental Health
- Join the health and fitness craze, embracing indoor exercises, outdoor activities, and extreme sports.
- Experiment with vegetarianism, light meals, and customized nutrition plans.
- Prioritize sleep quality and use health apps to track exercise, sleep, and dietary data.