Does life get better?

Life has its ups and downs. If it were not for the lows, we would not recognize highs. Stick with it, things will change.

And, I am not sure life actually gets better. It is probably more correct to say we learn to be contented with less as we age.

Sorry to disappoint you, but unless you have found your true calling in life which usually entails detachment from what is familiar and then some sort of servile reclusion in the depths of nature, then no. I know it is wrong to dampen the spirits of youth but if you want any iota of true pleasure then :

1. Take care of your health generally.
2. Pay tons of attention to your family and your education.
3. Make sure ALL your choices and decisions are made carefully with your benefit in mind.
4. Really and truly take time to smell the roses.
5. Avoid wanting too much.
6. Set short-term, logical goals.

The rest if not all is up to destiny. Oh, and do not philosophize and over-reflect too much or you will end up depressed!

Enjoy life and seize the day.

Life CAN get better, but won’t if one does not take steps such as @ZEPHYRA outlined. But it is not guaranteed nor is it a matter of outlasting some phase of one’s life.

Much of it is a matter of learning what makes one’s life good or satisfying, or makes one content. And then it is a matter of putting effort into achieving it, and caring for oneself to the point that life is “better.”

It does if you try. 15 years ago I was living in my sisters garage on a air mattress wearing two year old shoes. Now I am totally happy.

Edit:: I should add that I am a nerdy white male. My luck would probably not apply to a African American that shares my same skill-set.

I guess it can depending on what “better” means to a person, if they achieve “it”, then life got better.

Better than what? I agree life has its ups and downs. I also believe it won’t improve unless you’re living your life fully. You have to be investing in yourself. By that I mean trying new things, meeting new people, taking some risks in order to learn and improve your life. As the saying goes, ‘you’ve got to be in it to win it’. If you’re just coasting through life, nothing much will change.

@johnpowell out of curiosity, did you work hard to turn things round or did you change mindset?

Nerdy or not, you have a sharp and intelligent mind.

Life is always great….it’s just a matter of how you manage it in your mind. When you wake up in the morning…are you happy by the mere fact that you did that and are alive? Or are you disappointed that you woke up? Are you wanting something you don’t have? Or are you cherishing what you do have? When you are grateful for the life you do have and the people in your life and the things that you do have….you will never be unhappy.

Life for some individuals can get better, especially if you follow the advice of @ZEPHYRA. However, the lives of many are getting worse. Consider the plight of the poor, whose numbers mount while the world’s wealth becomes increasingly in the hands of an extremely small number of people. Careless exploitation of the earth’s resources, resistance to shifting from traditional sources of energy to renewable energy because this would decrease the wealth some obtain from their stock holdings and the growing shift from small agricultural and manufacturing businesses to mega-corporations will continue to make life worse for almost everyone.

@Cruiser Lovely approach, you make it seem so simple. Wish I had your mindset.
@Bill1939 has it well-summed up, the world is a nasty place!

The closest we can come to sustainable “happiness” is contentment. That said, life is cyclical, periods of stability and periods of transition. Yes, life can get better and it can also get worse, depending on circumstance. Really, life is about experience and experience encompasses all the good, bad and ugly or existence. haha

It does, but it takes time. And it even may take some time before you realize it after it starts to get good.

No. Life is a shit sandwich and every day is just another bite. But the more bread you have the less shit you have to taste!

My first apartment was a 2 room suite above Bud’s Bar (about 150 sq/ft). The rent was $15/mo. I had to let it go because I couldn’t make the rent. My life has gotten better from that point and I believe everyone can improve their life with hard work and intelligent choices. Not everyone will want the same things however and that’s where the intelligent choices come in. Find something you’re good at and enjoy. Then stick with it. Just because you’re starting at the bottom doesn’t mean you can’t get to the top, in fact that’s where most of us start. Every job should be a stepping stone to the next one and never burn your bridges.

@Jaxk I would also add “beware of those who would burn your bridges for you.”
(But some bridges deserve to be burned! Just know when!)

Yup!
Unless it gets worse.

Often

I want to rephrase.
We can’t predict what will happen in our lives even tomorrow, and sometimes life can be changing quickly in a very short time to be much “better” or “worse”, and it usually takes us some time to get used to that, or it can slowly gets “better” or “worse” as well. Sometimes better, sometimes worse may cover it I guess.
Bottom line and truth from heart is, there’s really no “better” or “worse”. Life is a journey and unpredictability is its feature, and keep learning to adapt to changes is our task. The more we can accept what has happened and more importantly, is happening in out lives, and make choices, the better.
But if you have been depressed or anxious for what your life is right now then maybe you really want it to get “better” fast, then it’s a psychological thing and it has its ways.

Life is life. Perception changes.