Popular Post Chandan11 Posted July 29 Popular Post Report Posted July 29 Why many working-class Americans (like farmers, plumbers, etc.) can seem happier or more content, even with less money: 1. Cultural Conditioning: "Pursuit of Happiness" In American culture, happiness is an internal goal, not just a result of achievements. People grow up being told it’s okay to be average, to take breaks, to enjoy small things. That creates lower performance pressure and more emotional resilience when things go wrong. 2. Pride in Work, Not Just Pay A plumber or truck driver in the U.S. is not socially looked down upon the way they might be in other cultures. They often take pride in their skills, independence, and hard-earned livelihood. This sense of self-respect matters a lot for emotional well-being, even if income is modest. 3. Less Comparison, Less Pressure Many working-class Americans live in tight-knit communities where everyone lives similarly. There's less constant comparison with someone who owns 5 houses or drives a Tesla. Social life is more grounded in people and relationships, not resumes or net worth. 4. Faith, Community, Simplicity Religion, local community groups, and family often provide a support system and meaning. Many are raised to accept life’s ups and downs with faith and humor. Simpler living often means fewer distractions, fewer expectations. 💻 Now contrast that with many Indian immigrants in IT in the U.S.: 1. High Achievement = High Pressure Many Indian immigrants in tech are highly educated, ambitious, and from families where success = status = worth. They carry pressure from family back home, immigration stress, and constant need to "grow" (career, house, kids, etc.). 2. Happiness is Postponed A lot of Indian professionals subconsciously adopt a mindset: “Let me just get the promotion, green card, house, then I’ll relax.” But that "then" keeps moving. This creates a cycle of chronic dissatisfaction, despite high material success. 3. Fear of Slipping Many immigrants feel: “I worked so hard to get here, I can’t afford to fall behind.” That breeds overwork, comparison, and less tolerance for failure — because they have more to lose, or feel they do. 4. Social Isolation Many Indians in the U.S. lack close friendships outside family and work. There may be fewer outlets for vulnerability, humor, or coping — unlike a small-town farmer who has coffee with friends every day. 5. Identity Conflict Many are caught between two cultures: – Not fully American – Not fully Indian anymore That can lead to a subtle identity void, where external success doesn't bring deep fulfillment. 🧠 A Key Insight: Happiness = Reality − Expectations Many Americans with modest lives have lower expectations, so disappointments don’t crush them. Many high-achieving immigrants have sky-high expectations, so even a small dip feels like failure. 🌱 So what can we learn? Money = comfort, not happiness. You can have peace of mind without millions, and you can have anxiety with a $200k salary. Let go of over-control. Learning from working-class American attitudes, we can embrace more flexibility, humor, humility, and faith. Rediscover community, relationships, and play. Deep conversations, hobbies, local involvement — these often make a bigger impact on happiness than a new car or title. 2 3 Quote
Popular Post Konebhar6 Posted July 29 Popular Post Report Posted July 29 Simple ga. They earn, they spend and donate some to charity. We earn for us, kids and next generations to come. They enjoy life better than us. 5 2 Quote
Popular Post Hitman Posted July 29 Popular Post Report Posted July 29 For Americans they only need house in America . For desis they need house (biggest) in USA + many houses in India + saving money for Amaravathi lands …. its all lot of pressure 1 5 Quote
krishnaaa Posted July 29 Report Posted July 29 7 hours ago, Chandan11 said: Why many working-class Americans (like farmers, plumbers, etc.) can seem happier or more content, even with less money: 1. Cultural Conditioning: "Pursuit of Happiness" In American culture, happiness is an internal goal, not just a result of achievements. People grow up being told it’s okay to be average, to take breaks, to enjoy small things. That creates lower performance pressure and more emotional resilience when things go wrong. 2. Pride in Work, Not Just Pay A plumber or truck driver in the U.S. is not socially looked down upon the way they might be in other cultures. They often take pride in their skills, independence, and hard-earned livelihood. This sense of self-respect matters a lot for emotional well-being, even if income is modest. 3. Less Comparison, Less Pressure Many working-class Americans live in tight-knit communities where everyone lives similarly. There's less constant comparison with someone who owns 5 houses or drives a Tesla. Social life is more grounded in people and relationships, not resumes or net worth. 4. Faith, Community, Simplicity Religion, local community groups, and family often provide a support system and meaning. Many are raised to accept life’s ups and downs with faith and humor. Simpler living often means fewer distractions, fewer expectations. 💻 Now contrast that with many Indian immigrants in IT in the U.S.: 1. High Achievement = High Pressure Many Indian immigrants in tech are highly educated, ambitious, and from families where success = status = worth. They carry pressure from family back home, immigration stress, and constant need to "grow" (career, house, kids, etc.). 2. Happiness is Postponed A lot of Indian professionals subconsciously adopt a mindset: “Let me just get the promotion, green card, house, then I’ll relax.” But that "then" keeps moving. This creates a cycle of chronic dissatisfaction, despite high material success. 3. Fear of Slipping Many immigrants feel: “I worked so hard to get here, I can’t afford to fall behind.” That breeds overwork, comparison, and less tolerance for failure — because they have more to lose, or feel they do. 4. Social Isolation Many Indians in the U.S. lack close friendships outside family and work. There may be fewer outlets for vulnerability, humor, or coping — unlike a small-town farmer who has coffee with friends every day. 5. Identity Conflict Many are caught between two cultures: – Not fully American – Not fully Indian anymore That can lead to a subtle identity void, where external success doesn't bring deep fulfillment. 🧠 A Key Insight: Happiness = Reality − Expectations Many Americans with modest lives have lower expectations, so disappointments don’t crush them. Many high-achieving immigrants have sky-high expectations, so even a small dip feels like failure. 🌱 So what can we learn? Money = comfort, not happiness. You can have peace of mind without millions, and you can have anxiety with a $200k salary. Let go of over-control. Learning from working-class American attitudes, we can embrace more flexibility, humor, humility, and faith. Rediscover community, relationships, and play. Deep conversations, hobbies, local involvement — these often make a bigger impact on happiness than a new car or title. You get all that automatically when you do hard physical work with your hands.....plain and simple. Problem with IT is that you use your brain too much. Quote
DonnyStrumpet Posted July 29 Report Posted July 29 We derive happiness from earning. Their happiness correlates with having fun. Its cultural. We align more with Chinese people in this regard. People on western hemisphere including Mexicans know how to enjoy life. Even though their income levels are not that high., 2 Quote
DonnyStrumpet Posted July 29 Report Posted July 29 4 hours ago, Konebhar6 said: Simple ga. They earn, they spend and donate some to charity. We earn for us, kids and next generations to come. They enjoy life better than us. Don’t recuse yourself from this anna. You and I are struck in this typical desi psychological epidemic too. Quote
Konebhar6 Posted July 29 Report Posted July 29 3 hours ago, DonnyStrumpet said: Don’t recuse yourself from this anna. You and I are struck in this typical desi psychological epidemic too. I wrote US which includes me. I never shy away from reality 1 Quote
DonnyStrumpet Posted July 29 Report Posted July 29 1 minute ago, Konebhar6 said: I wrote US which includes me. I never shy away from reality I have tried to come out of it. But it somehow pulled me back into it. I guess it’s the crowd that I’m surrounded with. It’s very hard to stay happy these days. 1 Quote
baabaa Posted July 29 Report Posted July 29 8 hours ago, Konebhar6 said: Simple ga. They earn, they spend and donate some to charity. We earn for us, kids and next generations to come. They enjoy life better than us. Correct anna, its a proven verifiable fact. At every level americans do more charity than Indians. For eg bill gates, warren buffet do lot lot more charity than lets say ambani, adani. It is same at two income IT household also, americans do lot more charity and spend on themselves. Indians nuvvu annattu will save for pillalu, manavadalu, muni manavadalu. Another point is lot more american small business pass to non biological person ade mana india lo aiyte i have not seen good running business being given to anyone else other than son however boku than son might be. 1 Quote
Michaelbarbosa Posted July 29 Report Posted July 29 1 hour ago, baabaa said: Correct anna, its a proven verifiable fact. At every level americans do more charity than Indians. For eg bill gates, warren buffet do lot lot more charity than lets say ambani, adani. It is same at two income IT household also, americans do lot more charity and spend on themselves. Indians nuvvu annattu will save for pillalu, manavadalu, muni manavadalu. Another point is lot more american small business pass to non biological person ade mana india lo aiyte i have not seen good running business being given to anyone else other than son however boku than son might be. lol you cannot compare charities made by billionaires to common people. Quote
CanadianMalodu Posted July 29 Report Posted July 29 1 hour ago, baabaa said: Correct anna, its a proven verifiable fact. At every level americans do more charity than Indians. For eg bill gates, warren buffet do lot lot more charity than lets say ambani, adani. It is same at two income IT household also, americans do lot more charity and spend on themselves. Indians nuvvu annattu will save for pillalu, manavadalu, muni manavadalu. Another point is lot more american small business pass to non biological person ade mana india lo aiyte i have not seen good running business being given to anyone else other than son however boku than son might be. Billionaires Charity is all smokes. They simply do that to avoid taxes. In India corps do it with in the name of "Corp Social responsibility". It's also premature to presume assets and businesses pass down to others outside blood line even in the US. That's all make believe stuff as well. Some may be altruistic, but you cannot extrapolate that to a society. A biological progeny is the heir pretty much in every society, unless someone ends up barren. Quote
Android_Halwa Posted July 29 Report Posted July 29 12 hours ago, Chandan11 said: 3. Fear of Slipping Many immigrants feel: “I worked so hard to get here, I can’t afford to fall behind.” That breeds overwork, comparison, and less tolerance for failure — because they have more to lose, or feel they do. Spot on… Quote
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