There’s a phrase I often use as a reminder to put myself in check and to regain perspective on situations in my life. I call them “first world problems.”
Life is certainly filled with its share of difficulties and worries, but not all problems are equal. Sure, there are situations which are undeniably complex and challenging and are sometimes seemingly insurmountable, but others (i.e. most) are actually quite trivial in the grand scheme of things. Too often, especially in our modern western culture, we tend to inflate with false importance our little, mostly insignificant issues.
You’ve been to three different stores and all of them are all out of your favorite jar of pickles, even though all three stores had an entire aisle devoted to pickles. First world problem. You’ve gone six days with barely a scattering of food and just a trickle of questionably safe drinking water. Real problem.
Your iPhone’s battery only lasts half a day and you aren’t able to text your friends to finish making plans to go to the movies. First world problem. You haven’t spoken to loved ones in weeks because you are afraid for your life as you hide in a decimated building with no power in the middle of a city threatened by civil war. Real problem.
That guy cut you off in traffic and now insists upon driving in front of you twenty miles slower than the speed limit, making you late for an appointment. First world problem. You have to walk ten miles to work a job that pays less per week than an American cup of coffee. Real problem.
And then there are the kinds of first world problems that are so absurd that they become what is referred to as “white whine” problems. These are things that make the eyes of people in third world countries roll into the back of their heads. Things like “I have nothing to wear,” or “I am literally starving—there’s nothing in this house that I want to eat.” Even more ridiculous are things like “There’s too much dressing on my salad,” and “This theatre is too cold” and “I am getting so bored playing Candy Crush Saga.”
I am sometimes guilty of confusing inconveniences and frustrations for real troubles rather than acknowledging them as mere nuisances or trivial distresses—honestly, more often than I would want to admit. That isn’t to say that some of my problems are not important. I do have things in my life that are indeed stressful and are of valid concern—things that, if I dwell upon them long enough, become seemingly overwhelming. But if I take a pause and frame these issues in comparison to the problems others experience, I am able to more clearly gain perspective of my situation and, in turn, appreciate my blessings.
My small health issues, aches and pains are nothing compared to those who suffer from ALS or muscular dystrophy or have been paralyzed in some tragic accident. My relational conflicts and challenges are minuscule in comparison to emotional and physical battles that some of my friends are going through. My financial concerns are minor compared to those without employment and in fear of losing all they have worked to achieve. Even big problems in my life, when followed by “it could be worse,” lose their dominance over me. I don’t have a perfect, trouble-free life, but I do have one that many in this world only dream of. Not only do I need to keep this perspective when addressing my own “problems” (as it is important to be grateful for my blessings), but I must also consider how I might use my blessings to bless others. That’s a first world opportunity.
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