Some generations are born into peaceful times, while others arrive as the world is undergoing profound transformation. If your children were born between 1980 and 1999, they grew up right at that turning point: the old ways were beginning to lose their grip, and the new was still being born.
This position “between two worlds” isn’t just a poetic notion. It’s evident in their way of thinking, feeling, seeking meaning, and questioning what was once accepted without question. And, for many parents, this can be seen as rebellion or confusion… when in reality, it may be a deeper sensitivity than usual.
The Threshold Generation: Why They Feel What Others Don’t
Being born on a threshold means living with one foot in each era: before and after the internet, before and after smartphones, before and after information overload. That’s why they can understand tradition, but also recognize its shortcomings. They can value science, but they aren’t satisfied with material things alone.
Many of them perceive the inner world with greater intensity:
They ask themselves existential questions from a young age.
They are sensitive to injustice, emptiness, and meaninglessness.
They are troubled by superficiality and the “automatic.”
They have a real need for coherence, not appearances.
This sensitivity can be an enormous strength… but also a burden if no one teaches them to understand it.
The collective unconscious and recurring symbols
When people go through crises, strange dreams, or feelings that are difficult to explain, symbols often appear that repeat themselves over and over: water, fire, snakes, doors, deserts, storms, falls, ascents. It doesn’t matter the country, culture, or religion.
The central idea is simple: the inner world communicates through images. And when someone has a fast-paced external life but a soul that needs depth, the symbols become more intense.
That’s why many adults born during this period recount more vivid dreams, with complex stories or strong sensations. It doesn’t mean they’re “wrong.” It might mean their inner world is crying out for attention.
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