In defence of the comfort zone
The Pursuit of Happyness and Andy Sachs (Anne Hathway) from The Devil Wears Prada remain fan favourites because of the resilience they display in embracing the unfamiliar. “In a neoliberal economy, productivity and continual self-improvement are emphasised as key to success," says Melissa Brown, assistant professor of communications at Santa Clara University, US.
“This shift towards a productivity-centered lifestyle, heavily mediated by technology, is reflected in our cultural narratives too. Consequently, (society at large) celebrates individuals who push beyond their boundaries, promoting a narrative that constant growth and adaptation are essential and something to be lauded." Broadly, this school of thought argues that individual success depends on individual willingness and merit, while overlooking the complexities of societal structures and disparities.
However, this culture perpetuates feelings of inadequacy and restlessness—which have been prevalent in the Indian context too, as Raksha Rajesh, an RCI-licensed clinical psychologist based in Mumbai explains. “Our culture has forced individuals to constantly chase unattainable goals and benchmarks, which has led to a perpetual sense of discontentment.
Individuals are conditioned to believe that they must always be striving for more in order to achieve personal or professional growth," she explains. Sagrika (who goes by one name), a 26-year-old consultant in an accounting firm in the National Capital Region, says she has “pushed myself into the unknown territory" ever since she started working at the age of 22.
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