Why do good people always have it shit, and horrible people sail through life?!

[Mumto42005]

Just that really.

I’m a good person - kind, caring and always go above and beyond to make everyone around me feel special, but it’s never reciprocated and I’m always made to feel like shit. Why does it always work that way?

It doesn't always work that way, and it really isn't what happens.

that’s a sweeping statement. It sounds like you’re feeling sorry for yourself and it’s easy to think the world is out to get you in that state of mind. It isn’t. Remember when life gives you lemons , make lemonade.

I think people who don’t care about what other people think take more risks and end up getting what they want, why the questioner sit and talk themselves out of doing things. I’m a questioner and I wish I was a bit more aloof and didn’t give a shit but I do.

I'm sorry to hear you are feeling like this. Empathetic people like you can get taken advantage of. Work on identifying and enforcing your boundaries and stop accepting shit behaviour from people who should do better by you.

You seem to have slipped into a narrative there which isn't going to be particularly helpful to you. Getting all woe is me, can be a self fulfilling prophecy.
It's important to have good boundaries and important to remember that friendship isn't transactional. Only do things for other people if you are genuinely OK with doing it and aren't expecting anything in return.
Otherwise you'll end up living with resentment and bitterness.
It's also OK to prioritise your own well being. It's also OK to decide to wind back on a friendship because you arent enjoying it.
Trying to please everyone doesn't work. It's not like at school where you get a gold star or an A for being good. Do things for yourself because that's what you want to do. You create your own rewards in life.
If you are a good and caring person you get to know that you are a good and caring person, which is great.. but it's not going to make the universe be any kinder or any more hostile to you. It's just not connected.
Personally I'd stop framing things in the way you are. You'll never be happy if your looking to get what you are due from some external source.
It's a cliche but it's true that happiness comes from within.

I’m always made to feel like shit.

No one can make you feel a certain way without your permission. Revoke that permission.

Thats not always how it works at all, it just seems like it sometimes as you focus on those who it has happened to. Also, I’m sure most people think of themselves as a good person.

Why is good = “going above and beyond”?

What experiences in your life taught you that you had to be a resentful martyr to be = good?

Your feelings are your own (they are only a feeling … they come from thoughts and you can reframe thoughts), draw some boundaries on what you want

That doesn’t make you bad or selfish

Most people look out for themselves. Not necessarily in a mean way, just in a healthy, self-protective way. If you also put them first, they have two people prioritising them and no one prioritising you.
Take a step back and prioritise your own needs. Look in 'self compassion' online and do some worksheets on it.
Without making a drama of it, observe some social situations and patterns you want to change. If someone is always asking you for favours, ask them for some. If they say no, the days of you helping them are gone. If they drift off, you haven't lost a friend, you've dropped a sponger.
If you are asked for help, don't immediately say yes. Check if you have the time and energy to agree. Ensure you prioritise having enough time to meet your own and your children's needs before adding to your burden. It takes practise and life is better for it.

I used to believe this but now I think it's not easy being evil !

I agree with you. In my experience awful people never get their comeuppance and karma simply doesn’t exist.

I dont think horrible people sail through life - they suffer from lack of real connection, and ultimately you reap what you sow so they probably have later life regrets . Why would you waste time thinking about it or comparing? Some people do unkind things but forget those people.

I think the comment "Remember when life gives you lemons , make lemonade." is incredibly trite and patronising. Sadly some people have far more than their fair share of bad experiences and there is simply no upside or positive way of spinning on it. And it happens to them time and time again. And these are serious issues which happen to them.

"Remember when life gives you lemons , make lemonade." is a complete brush off and nothing more than positive toxicity.

So anytime someone feels like shit because someone has treated them badly is their own fault?

This is nothing more than vicitm blaming and superficial rubbish. Get in the real world.

Who said anything about fault or victim blaming? I didn’t.

You need to place a high value on yourself. Your health your day to day enjoyment.
Giving extra to others needs to stop for your own self preservation. Then you need to change your internal narrative and be good to yourself and gently (not overly) good to those who love you back.
When your self esteem is healthier then you can volunteer (time energy sometimes money) to those in need BUT NEVER more than you can afford, and never expecting anything in return.