Do Millennials Have it Harder Than Previous Generations?
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, there's been a considerable amount of press on the economic woes of millennials. Comparisons between Generation Y and older generations have them at a considerable disadvantage. There's no doubt that millennials face some challenges, but is their economic outlook and long-term ability to do well really as bad as the talking heads predict?
I received my certification as an aircraft technician in May of 1990. The economy was in recession due to thousands of failed Savings and Loan institutions in the late 1980s and the ensuing Gulf War. It took two years to land an entry-level job in my field, and less than two years later, I was laid off. After two more difficult years, I resumed my career in my chosen profession.
I have personal experience with difficulty in getting started in life as an adult, as do most. Very few people enter adult life the easy way, and no generation can claim that their journey was without challenges. So, no, millennials don’t have it harder than previous generations. A little reading will set the record straight and paint an accurate picture of how difficult it's been for each generation of young adults when starting out. If you don't want to do the research, ask your parents, or even better, your grandparents.
Starting in life as a young adult is not supposed to be easy. It's hard because you've never done it before. When you live with your mom and dad, they take care of your needs. Clothing, food, shelter, and transportation are not your responsibility; it's theirs. But that all changes, it must, when you step out on your own.
The training by your parents and your willingness to grow in responsibility through your teen years will determine how difficult this transition will feel. Those raised with obligations will fair better, not because it will be easier for them, but because they have experience with having to do the work.
It will be more difficult for those raised with fewer obligations and responsibilities because they lack the experience to push through and accomplish difficult tasks. Still, they have just as much opportunity to succeed if they're willing to work hard and persevere.
Growing is a lifelong process that requires work, and it doesn't end; it will always be difficult or at least uncomfortable. The hardships millennials are experiencing though different aren't new; they're not the first, nor will they be the last to go through difficult times.
Resistance
In his book The War of Art, Stephen Pressfield identifies resistance as the enemy we fight against when we engage in any act that rejects immediate gratification in favor of long-term growth, health, or integrity.
Resistance is everywhere. It shows up in our education, our work, our relationships, and our stuff. It's the enemy you must battle and overcome if you wish to succeed, whether it's getting that education you want, a career, a spouse, or any material possession. Resistance will not allow you to gain any of these unless you pay the price.
I don’t like resistance. Actually, I hate it! It shows up every day regardless of how I feel and what I'm doing. If I'm mowing the lawn, it shows up in the form of mosquitos feasting on my O-positive blood. If I'm changing the oil on my car, it's the bolt or washer that's disappeared without a trace. In my creative work, it shows up as a relentless voice that scoffs at me, telling me I don't know what I'm talking about, that I'm a pretentious imposter imposing my thought and ideas on others.
When resistance shows up, my first response is," I don't have time for this," or "It's not fair!" Who doesn't wish everything would work out perfectly, that we would have everything fall into place in every area of our life? But that rarely happens. I've never grown in seasons of laziness, and I've had some. I’ve only grown when I had no choice but to fight and push until I conquered whatever I was trying to accomplish.
The greatest challenge for millennials isn't the economic challenges they face; it's listening to the wrong people and believing they have no power to change their circumstances. It's allowing resistance in all its many forms to squash their dreams and make them feel hopeless and victimized.
Turning challenges into opportunities
A significant cause of financial hardship for millennials is caused by high student loan debt. It's difficult to add a house, a car, and other lifestyle needs when debt robs much of your income. No wonder millennials feel like they can't move ahead.
Unfortunately, too many bought into the false notion that a Bachelor's or Master's degree will provide them the path to a promising career and a high-paying job. For a few specialists, that may be true. However, with entire industries experiencing disruption and the growth in the gig economy, the traditional higher education route no longer works for everyone, especially when the cost to acquire it is so high.
I regret that many millennials were not taught to count the cost before going down this path. I wish someone would have counseled and helped them make better decisions, but wishing won't change the past or the future.
Like every generation before them, millennials need to accept the economic challenges they're facing and turn them into opportunities. There are tremendous opportunities available to millennials that were not available to other generations.
Millennials can start a business with little to no capital. Marketing is free or inexpensive, and the education and know-how for doing it all are easily accessible online, often at little to no cost. Here's the catch: no matter what opportunity you plan on seizing, it will require hard work, perseverance, and financial wisdom.
Regardless of the career path you choose and how much money you make, the only way you will succeed is to learn to manage your money wisely. Do it according to God's financial principles revealed in the Bible, and you will bypass most financial troubles. You will experience a full and rich life because economic challenges have less to do with what's happening around you and more to do with what's happening inside you.
For Further Reading:
5 Keys to Developing Good Money Habits
Why Do Christians Experience Financial Hardships?
7 Ways Churches Can Prepare Financially for Rough Waters
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