Living in Different Realities: Why Generations See the World So Differently
Exploring the cultural, economic, and technological forces driving generational tension—and how we can bridge the gap.
Where Did It All Go Wrong?
Have you ever wondered what happened to the hippies? The ones who were going to change the world, dismantle systems of greed, and build a society rooted in love and freedom? How did they become the ones sitting in HOA meetings, clutching their retirement portfolios, and voting to block affordable housing in their neighborhoods? Or maybe you’ve judged a Millennial texting at the dinner table, wondering if they’ve ever written a letter by hand—or know what cursive is.
It’s easy to look at other generations and feel baffled, even frustrated. Baby Boomers seem greedy. Millennials seem entitled. Gen Z seems too obsessed with TikTok to notice the world is on fire. And every subreddit or thinkpiece seems to have an answer: Boomers ruined the economy! Millennials killed straws! Gen Z doesn’t even know how to hold a conversation!
But beneath all the memes and the finger-pointing lies something deeper—a shared question we’re all asking in one way or another: How did we get here?
Generational Insight: A Personal Perspective
Over the course of my professional career, I’ve had the privilege of working deeply with people across nearly every generation—from teenagers navigating their first steps into adulthood, to Millennials and Gen Z seeking purpose in a chaotic world, to octogenarians who have shaped entire industries. Each generation brings its own gifts, its own way of seeing the world, and its own forms of brilliance.
This work has given me a front-row seat to how different generations think, what they value, and how they navigate the realities they’ve inherited. It’s from this place of deep respect for the unique strengths of each generation that I approach these questions—not from a place of blame or judgment, but from a genuine desire to understand.
Why the World Feels Like It’s Splintering
We’re not just living through generational friction—we’re in the midst of one of the largest systemic shifts in human history. The story of our time isn’t a petty tug-of-war between Baby Boomers and Gen Z or Millennials and Gen X. It’s deeper than that. It’s about the frameworks each generation inherited—the tools, resources, and realities they used to navigate their lives—and how those frameworks are now colliding under the weight of rapid technological change, widening inequality, and global ecological limits.
Think about it: Baby Boomers came of age in a world of economic expansion and cheap energy, where homeownership and pensions were the norm. Millennials entered adulthood during a financial crisis, saddled with debt, soaring housing costs, and a job market that demands hustle but offers little security. Gen Z is navigating a hyperconnected, climate-stressed, AI-driven world where traditional institutions feel irrelevant and the future feels, well, fragile.
It’s no wonder we feel like we’re living in entirely different realities—because we are. Each generation is shaped by the world it grew up in, and those worlds are wildly different. But this isn’t just about generational differences; it’s about systemic shifts on a scale that humanity has rarely seen.
We’re transitioning from an age of abundance to what some thinkers, like Nate Hagens, call The Great Simplification. It’s a shift from infinite growth to necessary limits, from unsustainable systems to those grounded in reality. And every generation has a role to play in how we navigate this transition.
This isn’t just a story about blame or nostalgia. It’s a story about understanding—about seeing how the systems we’ve built are breaking down and how we can work together to create something new. So, let’s dive into the big questions: How did we get here? What’s driving this generational divide? And how can understanding these differences help us move forward—together?
Generational Framework: Living in Different Realities
To truly understand why the world feels so fragmented, we need to look at the roots of these generational divides. The truth is, each generation has been shaped by its own distinct systemic reality—its own unique cocktail of cultural norms, economic forces, and technological advances.
Baby Boomers, for example, grew up in a time of post-war optimism, cheap energy (fossil fuels that powered rapid economic growth, low-cost transportation, and industrial expansion, creating the illusion of unlimited resources), and the promise of the American Dream. Their framework was one of abundance and growth. Millennials, by contrast, came of age in a world reeling from financial instability, where job security and affordable housing felt more like myths than guarantees. Meanwhile, Gen Z was born into a digital-first world, navigating constant connectivity, climate anxiety, and the pressures of building an identity online.
Each generation’s experience is like a different operating system, running on a distinct set of assumptions, tools, and challenges. And as these operating systems collide in today’s world, it’s no wonder we see tension and confusion.
Let’s break it down. This table captures the key attributes, cultural influences, and defining realities of each generation—and why understanding these differences might just be the key to bridging the gaps.
The Bigger Picture: Systemic Shifts Impacting Us All
The Binary Mind vs. The Infinite Web
The older generations were shaped by a world built on rigid frameworks—think the Dewey Decimal System, encyclopedias, and black-and-white television. Knowledge was finite, hierarchical, and linear: a series of yes-or-no decisions, ones and zeros, clear beginnings and ends. You wanted to learn something? You went to the library, looked it up in a card catalog, and trusted the experts who wrote the books.
But for Millennials and Gen Z, the world looks nothing like that. They were raised in the era of the internet—an infinite, non-linear web of interconnected information, ideas, and perspectives. Google doesn’t just offer one answer; it offers millions. Social media serves up algorithms that adapt to every click, swipe, and scroll, creating feedback loops that reinforce curiosity, biases, and everything in between.
This fundamental difference isn’t just about how we learn—it’s about how we think. Older generations were trained to see the world in binaries: good vs. bad, right vs. wrong, success vs. failure. Younger generations operate in a world of nuance, where there’s rarely one “right” answer and everything feels interconnected.
This shift rewires the brain. Studies have shown that people raised in digital environments develop greater neural connectivity in areas related to complex problem-solving and multitasking but often struggle with attention spans and deep focus. Meanwhile, those raised in analog environments are better at linear thinking and processing information sequentially but can feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume and speed of today’s digital landscape.
It’s no wonder these generations often talk past each other. One side is looking for definitive answers, while the other is comfortable navigating ambiguity and multiple perspectives. When one generation accuses another of being “stuck in the past” or “addicted to their phones,” what they’re really saying is, “I don’t understand your operating system.”
Stat: “By 2020, the average Millennial consumed 4,000–5,000 ads per day, compared to fewer than 500 in the 1970s.”
The Tech Revolution
Building on this foundation, we’re now seeing the rapid adoption of technologies that promise to reshape not just how we think, but how we live and work. Baby Boomers grew up adapting to innovations like television and the personal computer—tools that enhanced but didn’t fundamentally disrupt the systems they relied on. Millennials and Gen Z, on the other hand, are navigating a world of constant innovation: smartphones, AI, blockchain, and automation.
By 2030, an estimated 50% of jobs could be impacted by automation. For older generations, this might feel like an extension of the industrial revolution. But for younger generations, it represents an entirely new paradigm—one where entire industries may vanish in the blink of an algorithm.
The implications go beyond the workforce. Social media, powered by AI, now shapes how we consume information, form relationships, and even understand ourselves. The rise of the “attention economy” has turned our time and focus into commodities, fundamentally altering how younger generations experience the world.
Generational Implication: “Older generations built the systems—educational, financial, and social—that we rely on today. But younger generations are inheriting a world reshaped by technology, where those systems are no longer stable or reliable.”
The Financial Divide
In the 1960s and ’70s, a good life felt within reach for most Americans. A steady blue-collar job could support a family, buy a home, and even afford a vacation—all without working overtime or drowning in debt. Economic security wasn’t a luxury; it was the norm.
But as decades passed, wealth and power became increasingly concentrated at the top, and the promise of stability began to unravel. Today, the divide isn’t just between generations—it’s within the companies that drive our economy. In 2023, CEOs of S&P 500 companies earned 268 times more than their median employees. That disparity isn’t just staggering—it’s a reflection of a system where success is hoarded at the top while workers at the bottom struggle to make ends meet.
Stat: “From 1978 to 2023, CEO pay grew by 1,085%, while the average worker’s wages grew by only 24%.”
Housing exemplifies this growing divide. For Baby Boomers, homeownership was a gateway to wealth. Homes purchased for a fraction of today’s costs have appreciated significantly, leaving many of them with assets worth hundreds of thousands—if not millions—more than they paid. But for Millennials and Gen Z, skyrocketing housing prices and stagnant wages make owning a home feel unattainable.
Adding to the pressure, today’s housing market has become a playground for investors and corporations. Individuals and companies buy up multiple properties, turning them into rental units and driving up prices. This practice traps younger generations in a vicious cycle: paying ever-increasing rents that prevent them from saving for a down payment while enriching the very people profiting from their inability to buy.
For Baby Boomers, the system often worked as intended. Affordable housing, pensions, and job stability gave them the foundation to build lives of opportunity and growth. Compare that to today, where younger generations are stuck navigating stagnant wages, rising costs, and an outdated federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour—a figure that hasn’t changed since 2009.
Imagine being in your 20s, dreaming of starting a family, only to find yourself juggling multiple jobs just to cover rent, with no hope of saving for a home or retirement. It’s not just frustrating—it’s exhausting.
Generational Implication: “The wealth gap isn’t just a symptom of inequality—it’s a systemic failure that’s left younger generations locked out of opportunities their parents took for granted.”
Politics and Governance
The generational divide isn’t just about wealth or technology—it’s deeply entrenched in the systems of power that shape our world. Boomers hold disproportionate political influence, not just because of their numbers but because they dominate legacy institutions. The average age of U.S. senators is 65+, and many of the policies they champion reflect the priorities of a world that no longer exists: one of economic growth, fossil fuel dependence, and incremental change.
Meanwhile, Millennials and Gen Z, who are projected to make up nearly 50% of the 2024 electorate, are pushing for a very different vision of the future. They’ve grown up in an era of climate breakdown, systemic inequality, and global uncertainty. For these generations, the stakes feel existential. The old ways of governing—bureaucratic, slow, and often gridlocked—aren’t keeping pace with the urgency of the moment.
But it’s not just about climate or equity. Younger generations are also grappling with the implications of AI, automation, and even the emerging questions around disclosure—technologies and phenomena that could fundamentally reshape the world in ways we’re only beginning to understand. These aren’t fringe concerns; they reflect a deep sense that the future could be radically different from anything humanity has seen before.
Stat: “Millennials and Gen Z make up the largest voting bloc, but Congress remains overwhelmingly dominated by older generations, with fewer than 6% of lawmakers under the age of 40.”
For younger generations, politics isn’t just about policy; it’s about survival. Climate action, equity, and systemic reform aren’t partisan talking points—they’re lifelines. But their voices often struggle to break through legacy systems that were designed for stability, not transformation. Gerrymandering, voter suppression, and campaign finance laws disproportionately favor older, wealthier voters and candidates, further entrenching the generational divide.
Generational Implication: “The struggle isn’t just about policy—it’s about fundamentally different visions for the future. Boomers often see change as a risk to stability; younger generations see it as their only path to survival.”
The tension between these visions is playing out in real-time, from debates over renewable energy to fights for affordable housing to questions of how we ethically govern AI and new technologies. If we’re to bridge the gap, it won’t be through nostalgia or incrementalism—it will require reimagining governance itself, shifting power to reflect the realities of today and the needs of tomorrow.
The Great Simplification
For most of modern history, humanity has operated under the illusion of infinite abundance. Cheap energy and rapid economic growth gave us the perception that there were no limits—that “more” was always possible. This energy blindness, as Nate Hagens describes it, is the root of the systems we’ve built: economies designed for perpetual expansion, consumption, and extraction, all while ignoring the true costs.
At its core, The Great Simplification isn’t about losing abundance—it’s about shedding the illusion of it. For centuries, we’ve extracted energy and resources faster than they can regenerate, believing this imbalance could continue indefinitely. Fossil fuels powered unprecedented growth, from industrial revolutions to global supply chains. But this growth came at a cost—one we’re now being forced to reckon with.
Today, the Earth’s resources are being depleted at an unsustainable rate. Forests are being cleared faster than they can regrow. Soil is eroding under the pressure of industrial farming. And our global economy, addicted to infinite growth, relies on finite energy sources that are rapidly shrinking.
Key Stat: “If the global economy continues to grow at about 3% per year, we will consume as much energy and materials in the next 30 years as we did cumulatively in the past 10,000 years.”
This isn’t just about running out of oil or forests; it’s about the mismatch between the systems we’ve built and the reality of the planet’s limits. Energy blindness—the inability to recognize these limits—has created a fragile, unsustainable way of life.
But when systems operate within their true limits, they can experience a different kind of abundance. Real abundance isn’t about extracting as much as possible—it’s about sustainability, resilience, and balance. Younger generations are beginning to recognize this, questioning metrics like GDP growth and focusing instead on planetary boundaries, community well-being, and long-term survival.
For Millennials and Gen Z, the illusion of infinite growth feels increasingly out of touch. They are inheriting systems they didn’t design but are expected to sustain—economies that collapse without constant expansion, even as the natural systems they depend on falter.
The friction between the energy-blind optimism of the past and the reality of planetary limits defines much of today’s generational tension. Boomers thrived in a world where growth seemed easy and energy was cheap. Younger generations, however, are being forced to rethink what success, prosperity, and sustainability look like in a finite world.
Boomers thrived in an era of perceived abundance, where energy seemed limitless and growth came easily. Younger generations are navigating a world where those assumptions no longer hold, requiring a shift toward balance and sustainability.
Hagens argues that this transition—from energy blindness to energy awareness—requires a fundamental rethinking of how we measure success. Nations have long equated progress with GDP growth, but what happens when growth becomes impossible? The opportunity lies in redefining thriving—not as unchecked expansion, but as living within the true limits of our planet while creating systems that sustain us over the long term.
The Great Simplification isn’t just a crisis—it’s a chance to build a new kind of abundance. The question is, will we adapt in time?
The Emotional and Psychological Costs
Mental Health and Burnout
Younger generations are navigating a landscape of unprecedented mental health challenges. Precarious employment, climate anxiety, and the relentless pressures of social media have created a perfect storm of stress. Statistically, nearly 50% of Millennials and Gen Z report feeling burned out, compared to just 20% of Boomers.
But the differences in mental health don’t just stop there—they’re rooted in how each generation approaches and understands it. Boomers grew up in a time when mental health was rarely discussed and often stigmatized. Therapy and trauma work were seen as fringe concepts, accessible to only a privileged few. For Millennials and Gen Z, mental health awareness has become a cornerstone of their well-being, with greater access to therapy, mindfulness practices, and trauma-informed care.
This generational gap in psychological tools creates tension. Younger generations often wish for more openness and understanding from their parents and grandparents. They see how unaddressed trauma ripples across families and communities, perpetuating cycles of harm. Imagine the potential for healing if older generations were more willing to embrace these tools, not just for themselves but for the legacy they leave behind.
Stat: “Alcohol consumption among Gen Z has declined significantly, with studies showing that 20% of Gen Z report being teetotalers compared to only 10% of Millennials and even fewer Baby Boomers.”
This shift reflects not just a cultural change but a generational rethinking of coping mechanisms and mental health priorities. Where older generations might have turned to alcohol to unwind, younger generations are increasingly choosing sobriety or wellness practices that align with their focus on mental health and self-care.
The Healthcare Divide
The emotional burden is compounded by the healthcare landscape. For Baby Boomers, access to affordable healthcare during their formative years was more stable, with employer-sponsored plans and lower medical costs. Fast forward to today, and Millennials and Gen Z face a fragmented, profit-driven healthcare system where even routine care can bankrupt families.
The implications are stark: younger generations aren’t just worried about their mental health—they’re also navigating a medical system where costs often outweigh care. From skyrocketing insurance premiums to the inaccessibility of preventive care, the system itself compounds the stress they already face.
Stat: “The average family premium for employer-sponsored health insurance has risen 47% since 2011, far outpacing wage growth.”
Cultural Guilt vs. Frustration
Generational divides around emotional and physical well-being often boil down to contrasting realities. Baby Boomers recall a time when systems felt reliable—affordable healthcare, stable jobs, and pensions were part of the deal. Millennials and Gen Z, on the other hand, live in a world where those supports have eroded, leaving them to navigate rising costs and a fragmented safety net.
This contrast fuels frustration. Younger generations feel stuck rebuilding systems they never got to benefit from, while Boomers can carry a quiet guilt for having thrived in an era of abundance that no longer exists.
The opportunity for understanding lies in recognizing that these emotional and psychological costs aren’t just individual burdens—they’re systemic legacies. By addressing gaps in mental health access and healthcare quality, we can begin to bridge the generational divide and build a more resilient, compassionate society.
The tension isn’t just about what was lost—it’s about what’s possible moving forward. With empathy for these shared burdens, we can pave the way for collaboration and deeper connection.
Bridging the Divide: From Blame to Solutions
The divides between generations often come down to a lack of understanding. It’s easy to see each other through the lens of frustration: Boomers wondering why younger people don’t “just persevere like they had to do,” while Millennials and Gen Z feel burdened by systems they never chose but are expected to fix. But the heart of the issue isn’t laziness or greed—it’s perspective.
Take the hippies, for example. The generation that once fought for love, equality, and liberation didn’t abandon those ideals—they adapted them to a world that demanded conformity to survive. They took jobs, built lives, and, in many cases, ended up operating within the very systems they had once resisted. The idealism of their youth collided with the realities of mortgages, pensions, and societal expectations. What may look like hypocrisy is often just compromise, shaped by the realities of their time.
Older generations were raised with linear thinking: a clear path from question to answer, from effort to reward. The Dewey Decimal System of reality. Younger generations, shaped by the internet and infinite web thinking, navigate nuance, ambiguity, and overlapping truths. When one generation says, “Why can’t you just follow the rules?” and the other says, “The rules don’t work anymore,” what they’re really expressing is, I don’t understand your world.
Empathy starts here: with the recognition that these operating systems are not flaws but adaptations. Boomers thrived in a world of stability; younger generations are adapting to a world of constant flux. Compassion means acknowledging these differences without judgment, listening to the stories of what shaped them, and finding shared ground.
When we lead with understanding instead of blame, the path forward becomes clearer. It’s not about fixing everything right now—it’s about bridging the gap, one conversation, one moment of compassion, at a time.
A Call to Reimagine
In our family, the concept of tikkun olam—repairing the world—has always been a guiding philosophy. It’s a belief rooted in the idea that we each have a role to play in healing what’s broken, whether in our communities, our systems, or our planet. But tikkun olam doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It means recognizing the fragments we’ve inherited and understanding how to piece them together into something whole.
Other traditions echo this wisdom. The Lakota people speak of making decisions with the next seven generations in mind, a reminder that our actions today ripple far beyond our lifetimes. Buddhist teachings emphasize interconnectedness, urging us to see ourselves not as separate from the world but as part of an intricate web of life. These principles invite us to move beyond individual blame or generational resentment and toward collective responsibility and compassion.
Each generation should, ideally, stand on the shoulders of the previous ones. The knowledge, progress, and systems passed down should be the foundation for exponential growth—not just in technology or economy, but in wisdom, equity, and sustainability. Yet somewhere along the way, this trajectory faltered. Systems became fragile, and the trust between generations eroded.
The challenge now is to rebuild that trust, so each generation can once again uplift the next. Trust and trustworthiness take effort. We must each, from our own position within our respective generations, do our part to bridge these divides and become worthy of one another’s’ trust.
Baby Boomers carried the promise of abundance; Millennials and Gen Z bring the creativity and urgency to navigate scarcity. Together, we have the potential to write a new story—one that embraces regeneration, equity, and a deeper respect for the Earth and each other.
This is the essence of The Great Simplification. It’s not just about scaling back consumption or redefining growth—it’s about reconnecting to what truly matters. It’s about asking: What kind of ancestors do we want to be? What systems can we repair, and what new possibilities can we imagine?
The divides we face are real, but so is the potential for connection. If we lead with curiosity instead of judgment, with humility instead of certainty, we can begin to heal not just the systems that shape us but the relationships that sustain us.
So, the question isn’t just about what’s broken. It’s about what we can build together.
What role will your generation play in creating a world that thrives within its limits?
Each of us, regardless of age, has a part to play. The systems we’ve inherited may feel daunting, but the potential to reimagine and transform them lies in our hands. Whether it’s through big actions or small, everyday choices, the opportunity to create something better starts with us—right here, right now.
Great article! 🙏
@Seth Great to come across this via @Vincent
I'm not sure it's possible to create a create a world within its current limits
"Stop us before we kill again" in the video from the brilliant David Graeber
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/erin-remblance_the-extraordinary-david-graeber-telling-us-activity-7285902059386683392-bFMD