To be sad about this?

[Rainfull091]

Seeing a couple I know, stepdad to 2 teenage sons and the biological mum. In the past week they have done three big events and clearly ha an amazing time which they then posted on FB.
I am barely getting by financially and feel so lonely.

Aibu to wish I had what they did ? Their money and their close relationships?

No kids or a partner

^ op have a good look through these boards. Plenty of people have those things and are miserable. What good stuff do you have?

Someone once said to me the phrase 'everyone is on their own journey'.
I've always remembered that one, because it suggests that not only has everyone else got their own goals and destinations, they're at different stages as well.

Hi @Rainfull091 please don't feel down x
Have a break from social media, people post happy pics but it's not always what it seems.

don’t think this kind of attitude is at all helpful to people feeling sad about their lives, to be honest. Not just because it comes across as bitter and spiteful (“they’re just putting on happy faces, I bet they’re really having a shit time as well and overcompensating”) but because it’s also basically telling a sad person that nobody is genuinely happy with their lives even if they have lovely things and look as though they’re happy; so why should said sad person even bother trying to make any improvements to what’s making them sad, when they’ll probably still have loads of different other problems to be sad about even if they do. It’s hardly motivating or encouraging, is it?

Many people are truly happy. They post happy photos because they are happy. Happiness is achievable, it’s not elusive or a pretence. OP can also strive to make changes, build her life up, develop her career, practice taking care of and loving herself, improve her self confidence - whatever it is that she thinks is lacking in her life. OP can aim for happiness. It isn’t a myth that most people are lying about.

They are genuinely happy. I try but nothing seems to work out for me.
I have nothing to be proud of and am exhausted emotionally trying to make things better. Starting to think I may have autism as I never seem to be able to succeed especially in a personal sense or professional way.
Just wish I could be like them.

I'm autistic and it has very little to do with external success - if anything, my attention to detail stands out as a positive.

People notice when you try too hard and end up not being yourself, and they back away, so if you get emotionally exhausted from trying to improve things, as you put it, then you're unlikely to be authentic.

So, what is the bottom line you are starting at?
Where are you now, professionally?
What does your personal life look like?

The good thing is that it's nearly the new year - the perfect time to look into what it is you want to achieve and make positive changes towards that.

What things do you try? What do you not succeed at?

If, for example, you’ve been trying to develop in your career for a long time but are consistently turned down for promotion / rejected at interview / don’t feel you’re able to progress then have you considered interview coaching? Or even that you might not be in the right line of work to take advantage of the skills and aptitude you do have and that trying a different kind of role might be a better fit?

If you find you struggle with friendships, what sort of people are you trying to make friends with? Where do you try to meet them? Is the problem perhaps that you’re trying to be somebody you aren’t / altering your behaviour to try to come across as more appealing and so not showing people who you really are?

Being able to identify and understand what isn’t working can be pivotal in making changes.