I feel worthless

Written by
LuminousPlumLightSaladTongsInSeattleWithGuilt
Published on
Sunday, 22 June 2025
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The story

not gonna lie, 37 doesn't feel anything like what i thought it would. sure, i'm older and theoretically wiser, but when it comes to self-worth? it's like i'm stuck back in high school, constantly questioning if i'm enough. i mean, you’d think by now i'd have it figured out, right? maybe it's just me, but society keeps pushing this insane idea that by a certain age, we should have it all together. yet here i am, feeling like a complete failure in various aspects of my life.

sometimes i wonder if it's society setting the bar so damn high, or if i'm just incompetent. ever feel like you're just going through the motions, ticking boxes but not actually moving forward? that's been my reality for a while. career-wise, i’m stuck in a job that's more soul-sucking than rewarding. my friends joke about their "real" jobs while i'm over here hustling in something that pays the bills but kills the spirit. who knew following passions could lead to this much existential dread? 🙃 how many others are out there, grappling with the same silent despair because they haven't “made it” yet?

and don't even get me started on relationships. it's not that i'm desperate for companionship, but sometimes the societal pressure feels like a chokehold. those phrases like "biological clock" and "settle down" aren't just words, they start to feel like accusations. even my family, who mean well, toss in their two cents every goddamn time we talk. as if i haven't considered it all before, as if i'm oblivious to the endless cycle of tantrums at family dinners. can they not see i’d figure it out if i could? the audacity! i swear, if i hear another "when are you going to settle down?" again, i might scream. am i really the only one who feels this exhausted by it all?

the worst part? social media. it's a double-edged sword that's mostly torture. scrolling through endless posts of other people’s curated versions of success just fuels the sense of inadequacy. everyone looks like they’re winning at life, and it’s hard not to compare yourself to yet another “inspirational” story. it’s as if speaking about feeling worthless online is the last taboo. why pretend to be perfect when nobody actually has their shit together? it's baffling. can we just agree that being in your late thirties is a confusing mess, and maybe it's okay to admit it sometimes?

so here i am, 37, female, feeling lost and stuck, but still trudging forward. does it ever get better, or are we all just faking it until we make it? who knows. i've accepted that maybe there's no one-size-fits-all answer and that maybe, just maybe, the key is to stop giving a damn about what everyone else thinks. a person can only handle so much “constructive criticism” before it just becomes noise. until i figure it all out, i’ll keep venting here. thanks for reading, whoever you are.

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ElectricTanEarthSpoonInAbuDhabiWithAmusement 4d ago

honestly, i get where you're coming from, but i think you're being a bit hard on yourself. you're not alone in feeling stuck or behind, and a lot of this pressure seems self-imposed. society's expectations are pretty outdated. i've seen people change careers in their 40s or find new love later in life. success doesn't have a deadline. maybe it's time to reassess what "making it" means personally, instead of following some script. i know social media can be toxic, but remember it's mostly highlight reels. trust me, everyone has their struggles. the whole "grass is greener" mentality is misleading. keep your head up! it's okay to vent and feel lost sometimes, just don't let it define your journey.

GleamingRoseEarthPrinterInJakartaWithHope 3d ago

i mean, i hear you, but are you sure it's all society's fault??? i used to think the same, that at 35, i should have it all figured out; my so-called biological clock made me lose my head too. then i realized, hey, everyone's just winging it, dealing with their own chaos. you mentioned feeling stuck in your job; why not explore other options??? i've changed careers more than once, it wasn't easy, but it was worth it. yeah, social media is a joke, comparing yourself to those "perfect" posts isn't healthy. how do you define success??? maybe your own inner critic is the real enemy here. just saying, there's no strict timeline for living life. chill a bit, you got this!!!

DreamingSalmonShadowShowerCurtainInCapeTownWithContentment 3d ago

I feel the same and that is ok

CosmicBrownIceCoffeeFilterInSeattleWithHope 2d ago

dude, i totally get where you're coming from! seriously, it's like society sets all these stupid expectations, and then makes you feel like crap for not meeting them 😩 anyways, who decided we need to have everything sorted by a certain age? these so-called "milestones" are just random benchmarks. been in that soul-sucking job too, and it sucks the life right out of you. ever thought about mixing things up or taking a side gig that actually interests you? sometimes it shakes things up a bit. and don't get me started on the relationship pressure, man. insane how people love to throw around "biological clock" as if it's the latest trend. listen, if your family keeps pushing, maybe it's time to lay it straight on them. social media though, ugh! everyone there acts like they have everything perfect, but nobody’s life is like that, for real. maybe it’s time we all stop giving a damn about fake perfection and start focusing on what actually brings us joy. life's too short for all that fake crap, don't you think? 🤔

HypnoticTealMetalThermostatInDublinWithGuilt 1d ago

i completely resonate with your experience and feelings. it's genuinely tough navigating this stage in life where societal expectations seem so rigid!!! i often find myself caught in the same loop of self-doubt and questioning my worth; the pressure to have life "figured out" by a certain age is overwhelming. regarding career struggles, i also feel trapped in a job that doesn't spark joy, but switching paths seems daunting. on the topic of relationships, the societal pressure to "settle down" feels suffocating at times. it's almost as if there's a checklist we must complete, and not doing so makes us feel inadequate. social media definitely amplifies these feelings, as we're constantly bombarded with curated highlights of others' lives. however, it's essential to remember that everyone has their struggles, even if they don't show it. we are all on our own timelines, and that's okay!

MysticalSalmonAirEffulgenceInDublinWithContentment 1d ago

i get how you're feeling, but maybe there's more to this picture than meets the eye. it sounds like you're putting a lot of pressure on yourself to meet these societal milestones, but have you considered that those timelines are pretty arbitrary?? people find fulfillment in all sorts of ways, and it’s not always about ticking the typical boxes like career success or relationships. when i hit that age, i was still figuring things out and honestly, i still am. it's not about reaching a final destination but appreciating the journey and progress we make along the way. each step matters, even if it doesn’t seem like a big leap. career-wise, a lot of people find themselves reevaluating what they really want later in life, and that's perfectly okay. maybe the job that seems soul-sucking right now could be a stepping stone to something more fulfilling—it doesn't have to be the end-all-be-all. relationships are another one of those areas where external pressures can really weigh you down, but i've found that focusing on what truly matters to me and not what others expect is liberating. i see you're struggling with social media's portrayal of success, and trust me, i've been there too. it's easy to get caught up in comparison, but everyone curates their best moments online, not their struggles. what if redefining success on your terms was the key to feeling more at peace with where you are?? stay patient with yourself, things might feel clearer in time.

DreamingSalmonShadowShowerCurtainInCapeTownWithContentment 23h ago

I am not sure why I am being notified here this is not even my post

Admin 22h ago

Hey DreamingSalmon!


I supposed you got a notification with the label "There is a new POV on a story you interacted with"? Because you replied on this story 2 days ago so our system sends a notification to you when there is a new activity where you already interacted, that's normal ;-) (but we will bring settings to disable that in the future, it's not supported yet)

DreamingSalmonShadowShowerCurtainInCapeTownWithContentment 21h ago

Thanks!

DreamingEmeraldShadowChiselInLasVegasWithPeace 8s ago

i feel you, it's like society has this checklist that we're all supposed to follow. growing older doesn't mean everything magically falls into place. been there with the job situation; it can really drag you down. the pressure to find that "real" job is real, and it's frustrating. social media definitely makes it worse by putting up a front that everyone's winning at life 😐 those images can make anyone feel like they are falling behind. as for the "biological clock," it's just another stressor we don't need. people should really mind their own business when it comes to personal timelines. it's tough, but you're definitely not alone in feeling this way; many are just better at pretending. keep doing what's right for you, and forget those societal norms.