Times Have Changed

What We Need To Know As We Adjust

Photo by Yash Kapadiya on Unsplash

I was born in 1938 and have recently felt as if many of the guidelines my parents taught me no longer applied. I wondered why and read several points recently that made sense - the information seemed worth sharing.

Experts say people who were raised in the 40s and 50s showed significant mental strengths forged by the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II- strengths that included a need for strong resilience, determination, and a powerful work ethic. I remember.

• Dad worked long hours for a company that made spark plugs for tanks and other vehicles.

• We used red ration tokens to get gas.

• We weren’t able to buy a new car for several years because the focus was on war preparation.

An article by Lachlan Brown, the founder and editor of Hack Spirit, added further clarity in a recent article when he said, “... people raised in the 1960s and 70s developed mental strengths that are rare today." I was curious and wanted to know more.

His viewpoint: people who grew up then shared a set of mental strengths which are increasingly uncommon among today’s young people. Those times shaped a resilience built on slower living, fewer distractions, tighter communities, and higher expectations of personal responsibility. He identified strengths that were quietly and subtly being developed - these stood out for me.

1. The ability to tolerate discomfort without overreacting. If we grew up during those decades, we learned that discomfort was often a part of life.

2. A strong internal locus of control. If we were raised in the 60s and 70s, we grew up with a mindset that led us to believe in our power - a belief that became mental armor.

3. The emotional strength to handle conflict face-to-face. 50 or 60 years ago, we couldn’t hide behind text messages, block buttons, or deletions.

4. The discipline to delay gratification. In those decades, we couldn’t get everything we wanted immediately. Professionals suggest that delayed gratification is a cornerstone of endurance, self-control, reduced impulsivity, and increased long-term happiness.

5. Strength built from real-world problem solving. Today, many people grow up with solutions being a click away. In earlier years, problem-solving relied on trial-and-error, which tended to build resilience through mastery—confidence that comes from overcoming challenges independently.

6. The ability to be content with “enough.” People growing up then had fewer possessions, distractions, and expectations of more.

Brown concluded that progress doesn’t always make us stronger. In fact, it sometimes does the opposite. He also suggests that resilience isn’t gone; it’s just dormant, and we can rebuild it with intention, consistency, and the willingness to slow down.

That information helped me understand that the times we were raised shaped our behavior in ways I hadn’t previously considered. Understanding it allows me to acknowledge and adapt to the changes with greater peace of mind. I’m wondering if they made sense to you as well.

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Dr. Janice Walton is a psychologist, a widow, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and a writer. She has written over 300 articles for Substack since January 2021 and is currently publishing a book.