Some people react negatively when I say this, because there very much are real problems in the world right now, but...

Much unhappiness is not due to the fact that the world is too hard, but that it's too easy. You show up to your job and don't do any real work... and nothing happens. There are no real life or death decisions you'll make.

Life now is hard but you're not going to die in a bomb attack. So lots of our energies are turned inward, on ourselves.