No matter how optimistic we are, at some point, we may feel like life is a joke. After all, it’s pretty unfair sometimes.

I go through life from day to day with an unclear picture in my head. For a while, I seem confident that I’m headed in the right direction, but then something happens which makes me reconsider my life situation.

Yes, sometimes, I feel like life is a joke. I feel like no matter how hard I try, I always end up in the grip of unhappiness, chaos or loneliness. I guess it’s normal to go through these ups and downs. Hey, I still don’t like it.

Why do we get the feeling that our life is a joke?

Honestly, life can be filled with situations that feel like jokes to us. Maybe unfair circumstances keep knocking you down and you’re ready to give up.

One of the biggest jokes about life is when someone who is rude, inconsiderate, and far unqualified gets the job our qualifications would easily fill. Or, maybe when you’ve devoted decades of your life to someone who returns the favor with abuse and finally abandonment.

Now, that sure feels like one of life’s little jokes. Here are a few more reasons and how to cope with this feeling.

1. Your regret

This is one of the hardest parts of life. Regret can come in two ways: you either regret what you did or you regret what you didn’t do. I know everyone’s on this kick about taking risks in life, but what about trying harder in the place you are instead. For instance, your marriage may not be going so well and hasn’t been for years, but slowly improvements are happening.

This has taken a toll on you in many ways and you’re thinking of taking the risk of leaving. Look, either way, whether you leave or stay, you will never know until you make that choice. Unfortunately, you make the wrong choice at times, and this leaves you feeling like your life is destroyed… like a big joke.

How to cope:

Okay, the only real way to cope in this situation is to make sure you do not make rash decisions. Even when you’ve thought long and hard about things like this, you can still make the wrong decision, so then what would a rash decision bring, you see? And remember, happiness is within, not in one situation or the other. Think about that as well.

2. Renegade emotions

Life can start to feel like a joke when emotions get out of hand. Yes, it’s fine to be angry, sad, happy or combinations of any of these. But there has been an increase in depression, panic attacks and so on.

There are those who suffer from mental or personality disorders who often think there’s no point in life. Suicide stems from the inability to process emotions in a healthy manner and through severe physical or mental sicknesses, and many other reasons.

Let’s face it, emotions are flying around everywhere like wild birds with no branches to perch upon. That’s such a disconcerting thought.

How to cope:

There are so many ways to cope with wild emotions. One way that comes to mind is… actually, mindfulness. Meditation, in whatever form you utilize it, can help calm the emotions by keeping us in the present time.

If you feel like your life is a joke, just carve out a space of time, in a quiet place and just be in that present moment. This is separate from others and other things which gives you a chance to see things clearer and focus a bit better.

3. Displaced grief

This one is hard for me. I have lost both parents and many relatives. I have lost friends as well, a few from suicide. Some days, I become bitter, and this bitterness makes me feel like my life efforts are a joke. I miss these people, and the stark realization that they are not coming back hits me like a ton of bricks at times. While life is beautiful, it can seem so cruel when it takes those away that you love.

How to cope:

Coping with the death of a loved one is not easy. I have found the best way to be at peace with this comes by looking at old photographs, old letters and letting the pain flow through you again. This helps you release those suffocating feelings of remorse. It also helps you understand how to live a better life in knowing that life is short.

Also, talking to others who share the love you feel with those who are gone is another way to keep healing, and retain a better outlook on life.

4. No goals

Life can feel like a ridiculous mess when you release you have no goals. Some people feel as though they are floating in time and space with no plan or no end game.

Maybe you’ve done things in the past, but now you’re stuck and you just don’t know what you like anymore. There are many ways this happens, but the point is to figure out how to get out of this funk.

How to cope:

No goals – it’s okay. First of all, you’ve lost yourself somehow, either to another person or by living in the past. You must first separate your worth from any other person, that’s important. Then you must leave the past where it is and become present for planning your future. With a clear conscious, you can begin to realize your dreams again. Then life will no longer feel like a joke.

5. You can’t trust anyone

Maybe some of you have come to a point in your lives where you just cannot trust anybody. I get it, I’m fighting this battle now.

I’ve tried making friends for decades, and for the most part, they all seem to betray me. It could be that I’m picking the wrong ones, this is true, or it could mean that my expectations are too high. Regardless, this lack of trust has made me stay away from people as much as possible. Life shouldn’t be this way.

How to cope:

Personally, I’ve had a few people pulling me from my comfort zone. While I get angry at them for this, I’ve managed to come out of my shell just a little, not much, but it’s a start.

You need just a handful of good family members, or one close friend to help you see things differently. If you have no one, then I encourage you to join a class in your hometown or start going to the library to read. These are only a few exceptions.

But the first step is to get out of your house and just try. I know that life sometimes feels like a joke when you can’t trust anyone, but there are good people. They are just sometimes hard to find. So, get started.

Life is precious

If you feel like your whole life is a joke, then it should be a joke that keeps us laughing and enjoying being alive, right? It should never be the joke that leaves us lonely or humiliated. While I may seem optimistic as I write these words, trust me, I am not the easiest person to get along with in “real” life. I just have a good heart, and I can relate to life’s struggles.

So, many times, I have felt the joke of living, and how I wanted to give up and end it all. I have many reasons why I didn’t give up then and why I don’t give up now. It’s okay to feel like this sometimes, as long as you realize that you have so much out there to gain, so much beauty to see, and there is someone who needs you.

If you were to give up, you would never experience what’s coming your way… and it’s not always bad. Although life may seem like a joke, it’s so much more than that.

Sending love and encouragement your way!

References:

  1. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov

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This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. JACK

    Great suggestions on how to cope with lifes little hiccups and jokes. But I have to disagree that people who believe there’s no purpose to life have mental or emotional issues.

    In fact I would argue that the belief you have some plan to fulfill or some purpose to achieve creates a great deal of anxiety and mental health issues with people.

    Not to mention history’s psychopaths and megalomaniacs who believed they were on some holy crusade or mission.

    In fact as you likely know, there’s a school of philosophical thought that teaches that humans can achieve freedom and peace of mind only by realizing that the purpose of life is to live it daily, and embrace the absurdity of it.

    My purpose right now is to write this comment. I may be dead in an hour and will have died knowing I fulfilled my purpose.

    Peace

    1. Sherrie Hurd

      Jack,

      You make a great point by mentioning how some actually do have goals, but some which may have been displaced or dangerous. Mental disorders and personality disorders can surely work in both ways. I respect and love people because I am supposed to, and that is my choice and belief system, as far as that goes. Some people do see the absurdity of life, and I know many of them…love them too.

      My purpose right now, since you stated yours, is to finish this comment and finish uploading my other article. Then I figure I will drink another cup of coffee and read.

      Hope you have a great day.

  2. Peggy

    So enjoyed your article. It really speaks to how I feel. Thanks

    1. Sherrie Hurd

      Thank you so much for reading, Peggy. Be blessed.

  3. EricaN

    Dear Sherri! I knew it was you writing this article…it’s because I’ve been reading your articles for quite some time. Much of what you say resonates with me and many of your struggles sound just like mine. I guess I just wanted to let you know that I feel connected to you through your work—that makes me feel like I’m not alone. You motivate and inspire me very much! Perhaps, one day we may cross paths 🙂 Thank you for writing these helpful articles! Sending many blessings along your way!! <3

    1. EricaN

      Oops, forgot the last ‘e’ in your name! Sherrie!

    2. Sherrie Hurd

      Awww, thanks, Erica.

      I enjoy writing these as well. It’s been several years and I still enjoy tackling each topic and remembering how each topic has also affected my own life. Most of the time, I am transported to the past when I write, and this enables me to connect with you guys. I hope what I say helps more than harms, that’s for sure. Thank you for reading, Erica.

      1. EricaN

        It most definitely helps, Sherrie! Maybe I should begin my own writing journey as well. Again, many thanks 🙂

  4. Anosh

    Mam could you be my mentor, I’m lost with the feeling life is joke.. need a true friend a well mentor.

    1. Sherrie Hurd, A.A.

      Feel free to share your thoughts in our comments. If you have any questions, I am here. Sorry for the delay in reply. The world has been pretty hectic this year for me.

  5. zoro

    article is good but still my life is the biggest joke

    1. Sherrie Hurd, A.A.

      Your life is no joke. Life is just not fair sometimes. However, we must try and try again. Do not forget this.

  6. Gabriela Y New

    For years I’ve been looking for a sense of understanding, or some indication to how life has been treating me for the past 15 yrs. Ive been lost since then. I just found not only the words that gave me the comfort that I wasn’t imagining this & was all in my head, but I found the answer I’ve been looking to give me peace with myself. I’m hurting today real bad, but I feel better now. If you have ever wondered if you’ve made a difference in what you do, just know you did in mine. Thank you.

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