Coincidentally, my colleagues and I were having a lunch conversation about how we are culturally biased to not say No, or prioritize our own lives over our jobs. (Not sure if this is a myth only Indians live under.)

And I took away 2 things from this conversation:

1. There is a very conscious putting off of plans- I need to be till X years and then move on. So people make compromises with their unhappiness, telling themselves its only temporary
2. This is a combo of your points #9 and #1- people don’t know what they want, and don’t know what would actually make them happy. So they stick to the present, since at least its familiar.