In the column, Jyrki Lehtola reflects on the various teachings and insights gained throughout the 21st century under international doctrines. He emphasizes the importance of living a meaningful life, achieving personal goals through mental training, and the need for self-reflection. Amid these positive messages, he points out that people are often distracted by external events that hinder their personal development.

Lehtola argues that despite being equipped with numerous self-help strategies and a focus on internal flames of motivation, individuals still face overwhelming changes in the world around them. He observes that the support offered for personal improvements can seem irrelevant when real-world situations pose significant challenges to well-being. This conflict between personal aspirations and external realities raises questions about the sustainability of the old, rules-based world order.

As societal structures shift, Lehtola casts doubt on whether the traditional approaches to personal growth and self-help can endure in the face of such upheavals. He provokes readers to reflect on how they can maintain their inner passions and self-development while acknowledging the poignant disruptions occurring globally, suggesting a necessary adaptation to these changes in the new era.