Anxiety Over Social Control and Work
Recently, I have often been enveloped by an overwhelming sense of anxiety.
The thought of young students being disciplined and “controlled” by society through the education system makes me deeply uncomfortable. The realization that upon adulthood, we seem destined to work for others, controlled and constrained, as if we are inevitably alienated into mere cogs in a colossal machine or slaves to the system, is incredibly suffocating. Even the thought of myself or my future partner facing this same fate fills me with an indescribable sorrow.
Sometimes I repeatedly doubt myself: Does this mean I am overthinking and being too nosy? Is this some hypocritical “savior complex” (or “Saint Mother syndrome”)?
The Pain of Being Awake and “Alienation”
Through continuous introspection, I have gradually realized that this anxiety is not a sign of weakness or unfounded worry, but rather stems from an awareness of the underlying operating logic of modern society. In sociology and philosophy, this fear of “systemic instrumentalization” is exactly what Marx described as “Alienation.” When you consistently view a human being as an end in themselves, rather than a spare part on a production line, reality does indeed appear rigid and cruel.
That compassion which seems “too nosy” is precisely what psychology calls “high empathy” and sociology terms “sociological imagination.” In a society leaning heavily toward Social Darwinism, hyper-competition, and the veneration of the strong, a person who retains their sensitivity and warmth feels out of place. This is not some “savior complex”—true virtue-signaling involves making demands at others’ expense, while genuine empathy is silently shouldering this real heaviness in one’s own heart.
Looking back at history, the birth of labor laws and the improvement of human welfare were achieved precisely thanks to countless people who were once called “too nosy” and spoke out because they could not bear to see their fellow beings suffer.
Deconstructing the Anxiety: Finding Oneself in the Torrent
Since we have witnessed this wasteland, how can we truly love life after seeing its reality? Perhaps we need to break down this immense anxiety piece by piece:
1. Discipline vs. Freedom of Thought Society indeed has a set of default settings: compulsory education imparts knowledge while simultaneously accomplishing “socialization,” teaching obedience and adaptation. Yet, even in the most airtight systems, thought remains free. Just as we are immersed in it but still retain our capacity for reflection and critique, many seemingly compliant young people are quietly developing their independent personalities. The system’s discipline is never 100% successful.
2. Reshaping the “Psychological Contract” of Work Working for others often feels like being exploited, but we can change our perspective on it. Detach your sense of identity from your job and downgrade it to a pure “transaction”: selling eight hours of time and skill a day in exchange for the currency of survival. A job is merely the gold obtained after defeating a monster; it cannot buy your soul, your hobbies, or your ability to feel the spring breeze and the sunset. Furthermore, modern society leaves a few cracks—freelancing, digital nomadism, or the minimalist lifestyle encouraged by movements like FIRE. Diligently accumulating your “F*** You Money” helps you slowly claw back control over your own life.
3. Building a Miniature Utopia A future partner and family represent a “miniature sanctuary” we can construct amidst the cold societal machine. In that small world, there are no KPIs, nor the hierarchical attributes of boss and employee. Behind closed doors, we are free and vibrant human beings for each other. Finding your kind—someone who remains aware of the world and refuses to be reduced to a tool—to form a solid “rebel alliance” will multiply your strength against external currents.
Separating Tasks and Reclaiming Control
The psychologist Alfred Adler proposed the principle of the “separation of tasks.” The current educational system, the objective laws of capital operation, and the broad environment’s hyper-competition—these are the “tasks” of our era or of society. Over-empathizing with these grand structures that cannot be changed overnight will only drain your energy through internal friction.
We need to redirect our gaze back to our tangible “circle of influence”: taking care of our physical and mental health, eating a good meal, taking a walk, and cultivating a hobby that brings joy without necessarily making money. Since the macro-environment is full of control, create the antithesis of it in your micro-environment—those daily moments entirely free from anyone else’s interference.
The pain exists because we resist becoming machines. Carry these clear-seeing eyes to seek out the cracks untamed by the system; that is where the light gets in.