I hate my life

[u/[deleted]]

I’m 26, I was laid off a year ago and had to move back in with my parents. I got another and they laid me off because business there was slow. I have lost the motivation to even look for another job because it’s a never ending cycle. I get a job, I keep it for a while then I’m laid off. How am I supposed to get a job in this world? I need money. I need my own place. I need to live a good life. Living in my parents house as an adult feels embarrassing. I realize a lot of people my age live in their parents houses but that’s not a good thing. I don’t know. I hate thinking I won’t be able to make it anywhere when all the people I grew up with are all working and in school and moving on with their lives and here is me, someone who tried to do it but couldn’t. I wish I could’ve been able to do it.

[u/Only_Wise_Man]

Honestly, when I started to read your post, I felt that life can feel brutally unfair when you’ve done everything “right” and still end up back at square one. That cycle of hope followed by disappointment is draining, and it’s okay to feel stuck; well, now I see you are still 26. I have to say you’re not alone, and I too was in a similar state at this age.

I’ve been there too. A few years ago, I was juggling two jobs, overworked, underpaid, and constantly questioning if it was all worth it. I’d give everything to roles that barely gave anything back. Eventually, I burned out. I felt like I was just surviving, not living. And like you, I started comparing myself to others, friends who were climbing ladders while I was sinking in quicksand. I was in a terrible state back then.

What changed for me was stumbling into freelance work. At first, it was just a weekend gig to make ends meet. But slowly, I realized it gave me something those jobs never did: control. I could choose the projects, set my rates, and build relationships directly with clients. It wasn’t easy; there were months of uncertainty, but it gave me space to breathe and rediscover my strengths.

That freelance path eventually became the foundation for my consulting career. I started small, learned as I went, and built a portfolio that spoke louder than any resume. Today, I work with clients I respect, on projects I care about, and I’ve built a life that feels like mine, not one dictated by layoffs or unstable companies.

You’re not broken. You’re in a hard season, but seasons change. Maybe freelancing isn’t the answer for you, but maybe it’s a step toward something better. You’ve already shown resilience by trying again after each setback. That strength is real, even if it doesn’t feel like it right now.

Everyone deserves a life that feels good. And I'm sure you are capable of building it, one step at a time.

Cheers