Egypt, a rustic with deep traditions and a wealthy tradition, is at a turning level because it faces the challenges of recent life.
Whereas the hunt for private and societal well-being has lengthy been a central focus, the pursuit of happiness has turn out to be more and more intertwined with the buildup of fabric wealth – a dynamic that has left many individuals questioning the true nature of achievement.
A 2023 article on Medium highlights that whereas many prioritize the pursuit of wealth, it usually doesn’t fulfill our deeper want for contentment.
Philosophers like Seneca and Epicurus argue that true satisfaction comes from self-sufficiency, which fosters confidence, independence, and resilience. Epicurus highlights that self-sufficiency results in freedom and interior peace, advocating for a easy, average life-style that avoids extra and pointless wishes. In the end, cultivating self-sufficiency permits people to satisfy their wants with out counting on exterior wealth, resulting in lasting happiness and contentment.
In accordance with Martin Seligman, American psychologist, educator, and writer of self-help books, the hole between seen success and true happiness has led to a rising recognition that happiness is not only about earning profits. He suggests that well-being encompasses greater than monetary wealth, together with elements like relationships, that means, and private development.
On the coronary heart of this dilemma lies the complicated relationship between wealth, psychological well being, and the societal priorities that form the Egyptian expertise of happiness.
The Excessive Tides of Client Tradition
In Egypt, societal pressures demand monetary success as a main measure of value, which might lead people to prioritize materials accumulation over psychological well being and significant relationships. A standard instance will be seen in marriage, the place when a person proposes to a lady, her dad and mom usually first take into account his materials wealth and what he can present first.
The stress creates a stress: whereas wealth can present safety and luxury, it doesn’t essentially result in achievement or happiness. As individuals chase monetary stability, they might neglect their psychological well being and group connections, in the end leading to a cycle of dissatisfaction and stress.
Because the nation has more and more embraced a extra consumerist tradition, the give attention to accumulating possessions and standing symbols has, in some ways, overshadowed the extra psychological elements of well-being. The proof will be seen within the fast development of buying malls and luxurious manufacturers in Egypt, in addition to the rise of shopper finance choices like bank cards, which allow people to buy high-end items.
Primarily, this vicious cycle happens on account of financial adjustments which Egypt has undergone over the previous few many years, resulting in elevated consumerism.
In an interview with Al Ahram, Samia Khedr, a sociologist recommended that “Sadly, many individuals should not have sufficient consciousness of their spending patterns,” noting that consumerism has turn out to be prevalent in Egyptian society.
In that very same article, Medhat Nafie, a professor of finance, claimed that “the unfold of shopper finance and bank cards that allow individuals to purchase nearly something in installments has given many limited-income individuals the phantasm of wealth, rising the buyer finance in Egypt.”
Moreover, cultural shifts in media and promoting traits in Egypt usually promote shopper tradition, emphasizing wealth and materials possessions as indicators of success. In Egypt, this emphasis is especially evident, as native media usually showcases prosperous existence, reinforcing the concept success is carefully tied to materials wealth and standing.
In Egypt, cultural shifts in media and promoting have fostered a shopper tradition that emphasizes wealth and materials belongings — resembling fancy vehicles and homes in gated communities — as indicators of success.
Well-liked tv dramas (resembling Grand Lodge, 2016) usually characteristic rich characters dwelling luxurious existence, whereas social media influencers showcase lavish dwelling and promote high-end manufacturers, encouraging followers to aspire to related requirements.
Advertising and marketing campaigns for luxurious items, resembling vehicles and vogue, reinforce this message by linking happiness with materials success. Collectively, these influences form societal values and particular person aspirations, prioritizing materials wealth over conventional measures of success.
Useful resource Gaps in Egypt’s Psychological Well being Providers
Psychological well being, particularly, has usually been missed on account of stigma and a scarcity of entry to sources, which hinder open discussions and the supply of assist techniques. In consequence, accessibility and affordability points exist in care companies apart from remedy.
Michael Elnemais, a guide psychiatrist and a lecturer on the committee of Steady Medical Schooling, addresses the numerous challenges going through psychological well being companies in Egypt, highlighting that psychological problems are prevalent however usually go untreated, notably in low-income communities.
He notes that 75 % of people in rural areas lack entry to mandatory care on account of underfunding and insufficient coverage consideration primarily on account of a scarcity of integration of psychological well being into main care, inadequate coaching for healthcare suppliers, and a focus of sources in a number of giant psychiatric hospitals.
Moreover, in 2023, a analysis paper titled “Psychological Sickness Stigma, Assist In search of, and Public Well being Packages,” performed by Claire Henderson, Sara Evans-Lacko, and Graham Thornicroft, recommended that globally, over 70 % of individuals with psychological sickness don’t obtain therapy from healthcare professionals as a result of lack of sources for psychological well being.
Such statistics are worrying as a result of analysis reveals that psychological elements like emotional power, social connections, and having a way of function are necessary for an individual’s happiness and life satisfaction.
Furthermore, the fast adjustments and pressures of recent life—evident within the swift adoption of know-how resembling smartphones and social media—have remodeled how individuals talk and work together, fostering a extra fast-paced society.
The Impression of City Migration on Group and Social Networks in Egypt
Speedy urbanization in Egypt has led to vital migration from rural areas to city facilities like Cairo, with the World Financial institution reporting substantial inhabitants development in these cities.
Cairo’s inhabitants has surged to over 20 million residents, reflecting an inflow of individuals in search of higher financial alternatives in industries and companies. Many migrate for these job prospects and to flee rural poverty and restricted entry to sources.
This shift disrupts conventional group buildings as households migrate to cities seeking higher alternatives, resulting in the dispersal of households and the weakening of social networks.
A 2019 research by Carrie Henning-Smith on the College of Minnesota Twin Cities reveals that city dwellers usually expertise emotions of isolation in comparison with these in close-knit rural communities.
The Want for a Holistic Strategy to Properly-Being in Egypt
Egypt at the moment ranks 127 based on the World Happiness Index. Thus, to handle this complicated problem, a basic shift in societal priorities and the very definition of happiness is required.
Slightly than viewing happiness solely by means of the lens of fabric wealth and financial success, there needs to be a rising name to embrace a extra holistic understanding of well-being – one which encompasses psychological well being, interpersonal relationships, and a deeper connection to 1’s cultural heritage and values.
Cultural psychologists, resembling Japan’s Shinobu Kitayama, show that totally different cultures prioritize numerous elements of well-being.
To realize insights from Egyptians, we spoke with Omar Mazen, a 29-year-old accountant.
He expressed that irrespective of how onerous one pushes to build up wealth, there’ll all the time be a way of happiness that continues to be elusive.
“Because the saying goes, it’s not in regards to the vacation spot however the journey. For me, true wealth lies in being mentally wholesome and socially conscious of the individuals who genuinely care about me. That form of wealth surpasses any sum of money I may make.”
Mazen was not alone in conveying this sentiment.
Fakhry Halim, a 25-year-old engineer, emphasised that the pursuit of wealth and materialism inevitably reaches a degree the place it fails to carry happiness.
“Happiness is present in dwelling a easy life—a life that permits you to sleep peacefully with out overthinking your revenue or the stuff you ‘want’ to purchase. It’s a lure; the extra you give attention to wealth and materials possessions, the much less blissful you turn out to be,” he mentioned.
In collectivist cultures, resembling Egypt’s, interpersonal relationships and group ties are sometimes extra vital to happiness than particular person wealth.
Nevertheless, as societal pressures and fashionable influences promote shopper tradition and individualism, this foundational side of collectivism will be challenged.
Individuals could discover themselves prioritizing monetary success over group engagement, which might weaken social bonds. Regardless of this shift, many Egyptians nonetheless worth household connections and communal assist, indicating that parts of collectivism persist alongside rising individualistic traits.
Such shifts in perspective may pave the best way for a extra balanced and fulfilling method to non-public and societal improvement.
By investing in psychological well being sources, selling work-life stability, and fostering a higher appreciation for the intangible elements of life, the Egyptian authorities can empower its residents to domesticate a extra sustainable and significant type of happiness.
Furthermore, this recalibration of priorities may have far-reaching societal implications, probably strengthening group bonds, decreasing social inequalities, and in the end making a extra harmonious and resilient Egyptian society.
Consecutively, research have proven that nations that spend money on psychological well being sources see enhancements in total public well being and productiveness. For instance, the World Well being Group (WHO) studies that each cash invested in psychological well being therapy can yield a return of improved well being and productiveness.
Moreover, analysis from numerous worldwide organizations, together with the Worldwide Labour Group (ILO), signifies that selling work-life stability results in elevated worker satisfaction, decrease stress ranges, and better productiveness.
Because the nation continues to evolve, the seek for true happiness should prolong past the confines of fabric wealth and financial success. It’s in embracing the multifaceted nature of well-being that Egyptians can then unlock the true potential of its residents and create a future the place prosperity and achievement go hand in hand.
The opinions and concepts expressed on this article are the writer’s and don’t essentially replicate the views of Egyptian Streets’ editorial group.
To submit an opinion article, please e mail [email protected].
