Why Is Life So Hard and How to Make it Easier?

Life can often be difficult, filled with challenges and obstacles that can make it feel overwhelming. But why is life so hard? From financial struggles and career setbacks to health issues and relationship problems, it can seem like there is always something standing in the way of our happiness and success. But despite the difficulties we face, it is possible to make life easier and more manageable.

In this article, we will explore some of the common reasons why life can be hard and provide practical tips and strategies for making it easier. Whether you’re struggling with a specific problem or just feeling overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, these ideas can help you find more joy, balance, and fulfillment.

Why is Life so Hard?

Life is full of multiple colors, there are joys as well as sadness. The days of sadness are usually more or they seem more, because we give more attention to them. In hard times we often ask ourselves the same question ‘why is life so hard?’ The answer to this question is not that simple. But remember that you are not alone in this situation. People do have bigger problems and you can easily resolve your issues if you address them properly.

There can be times when you feel that all the bad things happen to you and the people you love. You keep thinking about your actions and question your life a lot. You keep assuming things and desperately want to make changes in your past. Maybe you think that the circumstances could have been different if you made a better decision.

As Aristotle teaches us,

“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”

For example, you bought a car and some accident happened. Now you keep thinking that things would be different if you had not purchased the car or you were not driving that day. However, all these thoughts are mentally tiring and they sometimes cause even more tension than the actual incident.

Is Life Really That Hard?

Do you ever feel that life is a burden? Or there is so much bottled up that you can’t handle? Then all you need is some positivity in your life. It is our dissatisfaction and negativity that makes our life difficult. After knowing the cause of your tension and dissatisfaction you can know why life is so hard and how to make it easier.

Want to know why life is so hard? The following are the reasons.

1. Giving Up Easily

A big problem that leads to dissatisfaction is that we lose hope easily. It mostly happens when we are eager for the results. We want the best results without putting in much effort, it is common human psychology. If something takes time, we use phrases like ‘it’s probably not for me’, or ‘maybe I am wasting my time on useless things’.

It is because we underestimate the energy, effort, and time required for a specific task. We make judgments very quickly and choose the tasks which get easily completed with less effort. But we do not realize that what makes us happy is the sense of achievement. If we truly work hard for something and achieve it, we can give a sense of ‘purpose’ to our life.

2. Depending on Others for Happiness

We as humans are social beings and have to interact with others. However, in partnerships, people become much more intimate and depend upon others for their happiness. Not only in relationships, but we also expect this in friendships. This adds up to the list of false expectations and hurt us.

We are responsible for ourselves and should not let others decide what makes us happy. If we expect from others, we are burdening them and it causes unhappiness. The other person is not responsible for making you happy. Similarly, you are not bound to feel happy for them or make them happy all the time.

3. Interpreting Life Negatively

The outcome of our actions is usually based on our assumptions. If we assume that all the bad things happen to us, things will start turning out this way. Also, the way we respond and react is based on our mental recognition. For example, if someone thinks that pursuing a certain goal would be difficult for them, it might feel overwhelming and difficult to achieve.

This is how we make it difficult for ourselves by questioning our abilities and making negative assumptions about people and things. More than half of our problems can be solved by changing our interpretation of the situation instead of asking question ‘why is life so hard.’

4. Comparing Yourself to Others

Another reason why we consider life so hard is that we compare ourselves with others. This creates disappointment, frustration and envy and we start losing gratitude. It is more likely that you feel bad and think that others are doing better than you.

We start looking at their strengths and feel how weak we are compared to them. We make judgments based on the outcome without knowing the circumstances which made them different from us.

5. Humans are Emotional

We humans are very emotional. We tend to interpret every action of other people based on our belief system. We judge others too much, get offended very easily and jump to the conclusions before asking for clarification. A simple experiment can help you figure this out.

For example, if you think that someone is negative, everything they say seems negative to you. Try out hearing them with a different mental lens, i.e. positivity. Maybe their words won’t trigger you the same way. Even you can feel that whatever they say does not affect us in any way.

By having this practice, we can control our emotions and feel relaxed. If you let yourself on the mercy of your emotions, you will be asking ‘why is life so hard’ on every little problem you face. Remember that whatever someone says represents their mental state; it only affects you if you react the way they expect.

6. Lack of Socialization

Lack of socialization or the inability to make friends makes us tired. Life is a very hard journey and we need the support of our family members, friends and colleagues. It is very difficult to run in the race of life alone. A person who is surrounded by positive company is less likely to experience depression or anxiety.

People who cannot connect with others choose a complex and isolated lifestyle. They are unable to relate with others or even empathize or share their feelings. If you are one of those, make deliberate attempts to find some loyal friends. Good people with a positive outlook towards life can change your perspective too.

7. Ignoring the ‘Present’

Most of us are too stuck with our past or future that we forget to live in the ‘present’. If you are doing this, you are probably putting your relationships, business, and happiness at stake. It is very important to live in the moment because you can change it into something progressive and meaningful.

If you can ward off the past, you are probably the luckiest person. Your dreams depend upon the struggle you are doing at present. Instead of worrying about the future and repenting for the past, focus on the things you can change.

According to John Lennon, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans.”

8. Paying Attention to What Others are Saying

We are much concerned about our image and cannot bear criticism or negligence from others. That is why we hold many of our desires back. Most of the time, we go out of the way to achieve something but then refrain from things because of the comments of others.

We keep rethinking those opinions and remarks and ignore the big picture. We even change our moods, decisions, behaviors, and thought patterns because of others. You should take advice from others, especially if they have some experienced about the problem you are dealing with. But the final decision has to be yours. Go with something that is productive and gives you happiness. You should also recognize the difference between good and bad criticism. In the end, you make a decision and have to see the results.

9. Having Impractical Goals

If you keep questioning yourself ‘why is life so hard’, can you answer the question ‘are you working hard enough?’ Life is a two-way traffic. The more effort you are making, the easier it becomes. But sometimes it happens that you are putting in the effort but still are not get desirable results.

One reason can be ‘unrealistic dreams’. An unrealistic dream is not possible or not good for you. For example, if a person aims to lose 70 pounds weight in a month, he is following a workout and a proper diet but has fewer results. Now if we look at the ratio, it means he must lose more than two pounds per day which is not healthy. This shows that the orientation of your dreams is not correct. You are making practically impossible goals and therefore can’t claim that life is too hard.

How to Make Life Easier?

Making life easier is something that we all strive for, but it can be a challenging task. There are many factors that can contribute to the difficulties we face in life, including financial struggles, health issues, relationship problems, and more. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed and like there is no way to make things better. However, there are strategies that we can use to make life feel a little easier.

By implementing those strategies, we can find ways to navigate through the challenges and stresses of daily life and make it feel a little less hard. So, we should always try to focus on the things that we can control and find ways to make life easier for ourselves and those around us.

Here are some strategies to make life easier and stop worrying about why is life so hard:

1. Change the Perspective of Viewing Things

Instead of looking at things emotionally and categorizing everyone through the same lens, try to give yourself some time before reacting. It is not necessary to give a reaction sometimes. Stop judging people and assigning meaning to their actions all the time. They may not have the same intention behind their actions as you are perceiving. Sometimes the person may do something mindlessly or in their defense.

Our perception about something either makes it a ‘bad memory’ or a ‘learning’ experience. Now, whenever you think about it, it evokes positive or negative emotions about the event. Be careful about how you feel and evaluate things. Your emotional power can make things good or bad for you.

2. Normalize Failure

Everyone has some goals or dreams in life. The dreams push us forward, the fears push us backward. You can either listen to the loud noise of fears and doubts or ignore them. Every day is a struggle and we have to face our fears.

If you constantly think that why is life so hard but still facing its challenges with courage and optimism, you are probably on the right path to accomplish your goals. Keep in mind that you are here to make effort and get the life of your dreams. Never let the fear of failure overpower you.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Nelson Mandela

Instead, you can try and normalize the failure. Do not see it as something negative, rather approach it with a learning attitude. Learn not to repeat the mistakes. Failure ensures that you are working hard to get something. It is a kind of assurance that the struggle is directed towards the right path.

3. Pursue Your Goals

If you want to make your life exciting, pursue your goals. If something inspires you, whether it is a job, business, or hobby do not keep it on hold. Divide your path into small steps and cherish each of your successes. It keeps you motivated and you can put in more effort in the long-term.

4. Accept the Uncertainties of Life

Life is not fair to anyone. Even if you have lost a job, someone you love, or some other trauma, you must know that it’s a part of life. Anything can happen at any time and one moment can change your life. We should be prepared for the tests of life.

5. Reassure that Bad Times will Pass

Life is in a constant go, there is a shift of good and bad days. Keep reassuring yourself that bad times will pass. Whatever trauma or crisis you are facing is temporary. Even on worse days, there are some moments we can enjoy. For example, meeting people, having family gatherings, playing with your children or pets, taking a walk, etc. all these activities can bring a smile and can make you forget hardships temporarily.

6. Don’t Victimize Yourself

Life is tough for everyone and all of us are fighting for something. But not everyone questions why is life so hard? Remember that you are not the only one. Thousands of people have bigger problems than you and still, they are making constant effort to improve their lives. If you ever think of giving up, listen to people’s struggle stories. You will relate to them and not feel alone.

7. Self-care

Even if you are going through a rough patch, you should never lose your head. Make some time for yourself. It is essential to take care of your physical and mental health, especially during hardships. You should take proper sleep, keep yourself hydrated, follow a proper diet, and do some workouts.

To improve mental health, manage stress through yoga, meditation or other breathing exercises. Build meaningful relationships with family and friends. Spend time with them. Find activities that you find fulfilling and enjoyable. It is also important to seek professional help when needed to overcome any mental health issues.

Closing Remarks

The answer to the question ‘why is life so hard’ lies within us. It is only our interpretation that makes us feel good or bad about life. No one can change your life except yourself. Have a look at your abilities. You are never powerless. If you discover your true self, you will get to know that these are only your fears that holds you back. Life is not that hard if we know how to control our thinking and emotional abilities.

Key Takeaways: Why is Life so Hard

• Though life is hard you are not alone in it. Many people have bigger issues than you.
• Rough patches are common for everyone and they eventually pass.
• You have the power to overcome your fears and achieve your goals.
• It is better to learn from negative experiences rather than victimizing yourself.
• Practice dealing with criticism and do not let others influence or control your life.
• Do not depend upon others for your happiness.
• Instead of asking ‘why is life so hard’, ask how can I make my life more fulfilling?
• Follow your heart and take small steps towards your goals every day.
• Stop comparing yourself to others because the circumstances for everyone are different.
• Take care of your physical and mental health during a rough patch.