Siddarth Shukla

In today’s world, many people are feeling the weight of financial stress due to rising inflation and the increasing cost of living. Instead of understanding what’s really happening with the economy—like how governments and central banks are artificially driving inflation—many are turning to quick fixes like credit cards to maintain their current lifestyle.

Rather than taking the time to understand how the financial system operates, most are simply keeping up with the Joneses. This often leads them to pile on more credit card debt, thinking it’s a short-term solution to a long-term problem. The truth is, it’s not.

In the United States, for instance, credit card debt has reached $1.142 trillion, which averages to about $3,450 per person. Most people are only paying off the interest, barely making a dent in their principal balance. This growing debt burden is a clear sign that many are failing to adapt to the current financial reality, choosing instead to continue with unsustainable spending habits.

This financial disconnect is driven by an unwillingness to understand the real impact of inflation. Instead of addressing the underlying problem, many people fall into a cycle of spending to maintain appearances, further stressing their financial situation.

The Illusion of Affordability: Keeping Up with the Joneses

Many of us have given in to the trap of keeping up with the Joneses, living beyond our means to meet societal expectations of success and lifestyle. There’s often a wide gap between what we expect from life and what we can actually afford. This gap has been artificially filled by credit cards, creating the illusion of affordability.

Credit cards make it easy to maintain a lifestyle that, in reality, is far out of reach. They provide a false sense of financial security, allowing us to purchase now and pay later, often at the cost of future financial well-being. Instead of living within our means, many people have abused this tool, pushing themselves further into debt.

This abuse of credit has only made life harder for millions of people. The growing reliance on credit cards has contributed to stress, anxiety, and a never-ending cycle of debt repayment. The illusion of affordability has trapped people in a financial nightmare, where the focus is on maintaining appearances rather than building true financial stability.

The problem isn’t just the debt itself—it’s the mindset that credit cards foster. By continuously spending beyond our means, we dig deeper into a hole that becomes harder to climb out of. Instead of re-evaluating our lifestyles or adjusting to our actual financial situations, we continue to swipe, unaware of the long-term consequences.

The Root Cause: Not Understanding Yourself

At the heart of this financial and emotional disconnect is a deeper issue—not understanding yourself. Many people are caught in the trap of spending, not because they truly want or need certain things, but because they feel pressured by societal expectations and external validation. We’ve lost touch with what genuinely makes us happy.

Have you ever thought about how nobody shows off their life authentically on social media? It’s a carefully curated image, not a reflection of reality. Life is monotonous, yet social media portrays it in extremes. People are not sharing the full picture of their lives—only the highlights they consciously or subconsciously want to project.

There’s a pattern:

• Some people are showing off vacations, fancy dinners, and an expensive lifestyle that seems unattainable.
• Then there are the gym goers and health freaks, flaunting their perfect routines and shredded bodies.
• There are quote sharers, projecting wisdom and motivational words.
• You have sports fans, political activists, and influencers who dominate specific niches.
• And then there are those consistently sharing negativity or their miserable moments.

But real life isn’t like that. Life isn’t monotonous, and it certainly isn’t extreme. It’s the simple, day-to-day moments—moments that bring joy and peace. But when you scroll through social media, it bombards you with extreme versions of reality, making your simple life feel inadequate by comparison.

This bombardment of masks—these exaggerated projections—creates a subconscious narrative that you’re missing out on something. Your life may be peaceful, simple, and even joyful, but when confronted with the endless stream of curated images on social media, doubt creeps in. You start questioning yourself: Am I missing out? Should I be doing more?

But the truth is, the simple life, the one grounded in peace and contentment, is often the best life. It’s a life of authenticity, where you are not constantly seeking external validation or driven by what others think you should be doing.

The Struggle for Authenticity: Proving Worth through External Means

Most people today are caught up in a race to prove their worth through material possessions—whether it’s a big house, fancy cars, or extravagant vacations. We’re bombarded by the idea that success and happiness are tied to these external markers. But the truth is, very few of us are living our lives authentically.

Instead of asking ourselves what we truly value, we’re constantly trying to match an image that society, and especially social media, has laid out for us. The narrative of social media is particularly powerful. We see curated versions of people’s lives—highlight reels where everyone is showcasing their wealth, their achievements, and their perfect lives. This creates a cycle where we start measuring our own worth by these same superficial standards.

What’s ironic is that if you look at the older generation, many of them live much more authentic lives. They aren’t as concerned with proving themselves through material goods. Instead, they’ve built lives based on relationships, values, and experiences. In contrast, younger generations, particularly those deeply immersed in social media, are caught in a struggle of external validation—constantly seeking approval and validation from others rather than living in alignment with their true selves.

The Divide: Minimalists vs. the Jet-Set Life

Social media has created an extreme narrative divide. On one side, you have minimalist climate change activists, who preach about cutting back on consumption, living small, and reducing the environmental impact. On the other hand, you have the jet-set lifestyle, where influencers flaunt luxurious travel, extravagant purchases, and an unattainable standard of wealth.

Neither of these extremes leaves room for individual expression. People feel pressured to choose sides, adopt one narrative or the other, and conform to that ideal. But very few people are pausing to figure out who they truly are and what they genuinely value in life. There’s little space left for people to live their lives authentically, outside the boundaries of what these polarized narratives dictate.

Rediscovering What You Truly Enjoy

Breaking free from this cycle starts with taking the time to understand yourself. What do you actually enjoy? What brings you genuine joy and fulfillment? It’s likely that much of what you value can’t be bought with a credit card or captured in an Instagram post.

• Would you rather spend time with loved ones on a walk through nature, or does a fine dining experience genuinely bring you happiness?
• Are you spending money because it aligns with your values, or because you feel external pressure to keep up?
• Are you projecting a life online that is far from the life you’re truly living?

By reconnecting with what truly matters to you, you can make more mindful choices—ones that reflect who you really are, rather than what society expects you to be.

Breaking the Cycle of Financial Stress

Breaking free from this cycle requires a proactive approach to managing money and addressing financial worries head-on. Here are some key steps to move toward a more financially secure future:

1. Financial Education: Understanding how inflation works and the forces driving the economy can help you make more informed decisions. Financial literacy is the first step toward breaking free from debt and reducing financial stress.
2. Live Below Your Means: Avoid the temptation to keep up with societal pressures. Set a budget based on your actual income, not credit, and focus on needs rather than wants.
3. Reduce Debt: Start paying down credit card debt aggressively. Focus on paying more than the minimum to reduce the balance faster and avoid high-interest payments that keep you trapped.
4. Plan for the Future: Focus on building long-term financial stability rather than relying on short-term fixes. Look into investments or savings plans that help you hedge against inflation and grow your wealth over time.

By taking control of your financial situation and making conscious decisions, you can begin to reduce financial stress and work toward a more stable, secure future.