Stop Being Nonchalant

because God didn't call us to be "chill"

Recently, I keep hearing people tossing around the word nonchalant.

“Yeah, I’m just nonchalant.”

“I’m tryna be more nonchalant about it.”

“Dude, can you be more nonchalant?”

These days, being nonchalant seems to be a badge of honor among young people. It’s seen as a sign of being cool, calm, unbothered.

But why am I writing about this?

A friend recently told me she thinks our generation is falling into a culture of nonchalance—one where we treat it almost like a virtue. But she doesn’t think it’s good. She doesn’t even think it’s neutral.

She believes it’s a problem.

She said: Why would anyone ever desire to be nonchalant?

At first, I was confused. But then I looked up the definition:

Nonchalant: feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm.

And suddenly, I got it. I agreed.

So many young people these days want to seem uninterested. But somewhere along the way, they’ve stopped pretending—and just are. They’ve become truly uninterested, unenthusiastic, disengaged.

They want to be chill. Quiet. Unbothered. Dare I say... nonchalant.

And because of that, especially here on the West Coast, I’ve noticed something: We’re losing our fire.

We go to school, do homework (sometimes), scroll on our phones, eat dinner, sleep. Wake up. Repeat.

When I ask young people about their dreams or hopes for the future, I hear things like:

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t care.”

When I ask why they’re not involved in anything, they say:

“Why would I do that?”

“What’s the point?”

Sometimes I ask what they do with their free time. Some just shrug and say:

“Nothing.”

We are becoming a nonchalant culture. And contrary to some opinions, I don’t think that’s a good thing.

When I think of people I admire, I think of girls like Katelyn Hsu.

On campus, she’s known as a burst of energy. She makes everyone feel seen. She runs to hug people. She shouts goodbye from across campus. She loves loudly, boldly, freely.

I’m sure some people judge her. Say she’s “too much.” Too loud. Too extra.

But even more people look at her with a kind of awe. They admire her. They wish they could be that bold, that confident, that full of life.

She’s the opposite of nonchalant. And that’s why people are drawn to her.

It’s also why people are shocked by her.

When I think of people I’m inspired by, I also think of Eunice Chung.

She lives with passion and boldness, feeling deeply because she cares deeply—about people, about justice, about the world around her.

She fights for what she believes in. She stands up for what’s right. She wears her heart on her sleeve—because to her, things matter. People matter. And they’re worth showing up for.

Still, some question her energy, her care, her fire.

Because in our world today, passion stands out. Joy stands out. Fervor stands out.

We’ve lost our spunk. Our energy. Our spark.

We live as if the Spirit of God doesn’t dwell powerfully within us.

And that breaks my heart.

Because I don’t believe we were created to be nonchalant.

We were created to reflect a God who is powerful, majestic, loving, miraculous, extraordinary. A God who cares deeply and loves completely. A God who gave everything for us.

So why are we trying so hard to be unbothered?

My challenge to our generation is simple:

Be bold.

Be confident.

Be chalant.

Let yourself care. Show interest. Love people—loudly, wholeheartedly, with passion and purpose.

Make it obvious that you believe in the living God.

And if people stare, question, or whisper—good.

That’s the point.

Like Romans 12:2 says:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Let’s be the generation that chooses fervor over indifference.

Let’s be chalant.

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