I would say social media, advertising, and entertainment and comparing yourself to others.
On a single day I could pick my phone and login to any forum or IG and find some post telling me I ain’t shyt because I don’t make 6 figures yet (close but not there yet) and don’t have a business. Then that guy or girl is gonna post a pic in a Maserati or g wagon or something telling me to level up or you’re not a real man. Alright.
I turn on TV and see commercials for Zales, Royal Caribbean and Disney cruises and recall how some of my colleagues seem to be able to take at least 6 of them per year. I take 1 or 2 and I’m like damn. How do y’all this so often?
Then I get in my car and hear a rapper insult me for driving an Accord (which I remember being so happy when I bought it) and that he’ll flash a few bills and come take my girl and add her to his roster
Those dating apps also did not help. When I used to be on them the amount of ridiculous requirements people would have on there would be depressing. Don’t message me if you don’t have XYZ.
Of course you later realize that a good number of those people are just pretending and are either scamming, in debt, or faking it till they make it. And there are some that really have it.
I think that all these things help contribute to this.
When I used to volunteer overseas people just seemed happier than the do here though they had waaaaaaay less.