Life isn’t fair – we all have realized it at some point.
Since childhood, we were told that hard work guarantees success, good people are rewarded, and you can do anything. As time passed, we discovered life doesn’t work like that.
What we were taught may have been right in the past, but they are outdated now, sometimes even harmful. The beliefs we were fed kept us chasing comfort, avoiding pain, and staying “positive,” hoping life would reward us for it. This constant search for ‘feel good’ moments left us weak, anxious, and disappointed when life didn’t play along.
The truth is, life is full of realities we’d rather not face — and that’s exactly why we should face them.
This isn’t about making you feel hopeless. It’s about showing you that when you stop fighting reality, you stop suffering. These truths might sting at first, but they’ll give you clarity, strength, and a strange sense of peace.
Why Facing the Truth Matters
As we moved from teenage years to adulthood, you and I have come across several of these real truths, but we chose to avoid them. We resisted them, stopped talking about them because they threatened our illusion of a “perfect safe world”.
Accepting these truths was a big change and it often felt like losing control. But in reality, life showed us these truths because the moment we face them, we actually gain control of our lives instead of losing.
Yes, at first, it is very uncomfortable, but the results are worth it. When we ignore these realities of life, we
- Stay stuck in cycles of frustration
- Blame people, fate, government, the city we live in and everything around us except ourselves
In the end, everything we avoided comes back to bite us.
These realities were supposed to make us strong so we can tackle life head on. But due to our ignorance and avoidance, we never grew and when the difficult stages of life came, we started cursing God, parents and everyone around us.
A lot of people (including me) had to learn these things the hard way; really hard way, but you don’t have to. We’ve combined these 24 truths just for you, so you can stay prepared. When these things hit you, you won’t say “why me?”, you’ll be saying “try me!”
Take a deep breath, lean in, and accept them head-on.
24 Truths You Must Accept to be Free
Life & Its Meaning
1. You are going to die one day
And that’s the best motivator you have.
The Stoics called this memento mori—”remember, you must die.”
Most people avoid thinking about death because it’s uncomfortable. But here’s the irony: The more you ignore mortality, the more it controls your life’s important decisions.
- You stay in a dead-end job because “someday” you’ll change.
- You tolerate toxic relationships because “later” you’ll leave.
- You delay dreams because “there’s always time.”
But what if there isn’t?
Think about how you are spending this currency of time.
2. Your biggest regrets won’t be what you did – but what you didn’t do
Bronnie Ware, a nurse, spent years recording the end moments of her dying patients:
- “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself.“
- “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.”
- “I wish I’d expressed my feelings.”
Notice a pattern? They’re all about inaction. Failure stings once, but regret haunts till the end.
Make a list of things you’ve always wanted to do. Prioritize the list as per how much you want to do each of them. Start with the first one and don’t stop until you’ve made progress.
Pain & Struggle
3. You will suffer pain throughout your life
But you choose which type of pain you want. The options are:
- The Pain of Struggle
- The Pain of Regret
The former pain leads to growth, skill and mastery.
The latter leads to what-ifs, blame-game, disappointments, and long-term suffering.
Pick one productive struggle this week — a workout, a hard conversation, or learning a new skill — and lean into it.
4. The world is not fair
- Bad things DO happen to good people.
- Cheaters and betrayers DO win.
- Wrong people DO get the promotion.
- Favoritism exists.
- Money CAN beat true love.
You need to stop expecting fairness. The world won’t be good to you just because you’re good to the world.
Stop expecting similar treatment from people and you’ll never be disappointed.
5. You WILL be betrayed and cheated many times
People you trust will let you down.
People you love will hurt you.
The person you were willing to put your life on the line for will stab you in the back.
You will be cheated in ways that can shatter you into irreparable pieces.
If somebody betrays you and then tries to defend their actions, they’re basically telling you that what they did was not a mistake and they will do it again.
Trust a person in what they say and observe their actions. If their words didn’t match their actions, defend yourself against them. Don’t let betrayal make your own life bitter.
6. You will be hated and judged no matter what you do
- If you stay quiet, they’ll call you shy or weak. If you speak up, they’ll call you rude or bossy.
- If you’re kind, they’ll call you naive. If you’re assertive, they’ll call you aggressive.
- If you follow the rules, they’ll call you boring. If you break them, they’ll call you reckless.
- If you work hard, they’ll say you’re obsessed. If you take it easy, they’ll say you’re lazy.
- If you save money, they’ll call you miserly. If you spend freely, they’ll call you irresponsible.
- If you’re ambitious, they’ll call you selfish. If you’re content, they’ll call you unmotivated.
- If you trust people, they’ll say you’re gullible. If you’re cautious, they’ll say you’re paranoid.
- If you pay less, they’ll call you cheap. If you pay more, they’ll call you a show-off.
- If you play small, they’ll call you lazy. If you aim big, they’ll call you arrogant.
People will talk; in front of you and behind your back. No matter what you do, someone will always misunderstand, dislike, or criticize you. You can either waste your time trying to defend your actions or you can live your life as per your own values without trying to make everyone happy.
Stop living for approval. Do what matters anyway.
Society & Systems
7. Schools & Colleges prepared you to obey, not to live freely
Today’s schools and colleges are not there to educate you. They train you to follow rules, meet deadlines, and wait for permission. You’re basically being made to conform to societal rules which were designed for a different time and situation.
Break free. Learn to think for yourself.
8. Society steers you in the wrong direction
The people surrounding you have their limits in what they can and cannot do. They will try to impose these limits on you, so you can live as per how they lived.
Don’t get me wrong – most of these people don’t do it deliberately. It’s just how society has steered them the wrong way too and now they’re passing it on.
- A stable government job is praised, while entrepreneurship or freelancing is often considered risky or irresponsible.
- Owning a home is seen as a symbol of success, even if it means heavy loans, while renting and investing or traveling is seen as impractical.
- Getting married in mid-20s is seen as responsible; staying single to focus on self-growth or career is judged.
Don’t buy into these societal scripts. They’re trying to steal your own dreams and goals from you by replacing your own script with theirs.
Question every script society gives you.
9. Rich & Powerful people are fooling you to stay in control
- Pharmaceutical companies profit when you stay sick.
- Media profits when you stay angry.
- Politicians profit when you stay divided.
- Banks and credit card companies profit when you stay in debt.
- Fashion & beauty industries profit when you stay insecure about your looks.
- Consumer tech companies profit when you keep upgrading gadgets unnecessarily.
Educate yourself – and take back control of your life.
10. If you don’t control your mind, society will do it for you
If you don’t consciously decide what you think, believe, and value, outside forces like media, social norms, culture, peers, politicians, and powerful institutions will shape your thoughts and behavior for you.
You can either be the master of your own mind, choosing your thoughts, goals, and actions consciously, or you’ll become a puppet of external influences without even realizing it.
Guard your mind like your life depends on it—because it does.
To learn more about how to train and control your mind, read about mindset mastery.
Power, Respect & Relationships
11. No one owes you anything — Not love, respect, or fairness
We are made by the accumulation of our daily life experiences. What happens to us in the present is the result of our past actions. Which means that every person becomes absolutely unique.
No one is obligated to treat you the way you want—people act based on their own beliefs, priorities, and experiences.
Life doesn’t owe you anything; you earn, learn, and create your own outcomes.
12. People don’t respect you — They respect the money you have
People tend to value what benefits them or what signals status or power, rather than valuing your character, knowledge, or integrity.
This respect is transferable. What that means is that if tomorrow, all your money or power is transferred to another person, the respect you had will go along with it.
True respect comes from admiration for your values, honesty, skills, or personality. What most people mistake for respect is often transactional—they respect the benefits you bring to them, not you personally.
To find if a person respects you for your personality or money, just act and live like you’re broke for a month and watch as people will start showing their true colours towards you.
13. People want you to do well – but not better than them
Most people are happy to see others succeed as long as it doesn’t challenge their own sense of status or superiority.
Friends, colleagues, or relatives may encourage you to improve or achieve goals—but if your success surpasses theirs, it can trigger jealousy or insecurity.
Humans naturally compare themselves to others. When your achievements highlight their shortcomings, their support can turn into criticism or distancing and sometimes even backstabbing that could hurt your success.
Keep your private life private. No one needs to know how much you earn, who your contacts are, where you work and most importantly what your goals are.
14. You matter to people only as long as you’re useful to them
In many cases, people’s attention, care, or respect is conditional. The condition is that you’ll matter to them as long as they gain from you—emotionally, socially, or materially.
Some relationships exist mainly because of convenience, favors, or benefits. When you stop providing those, their interest often fades.
This isn’t true for everyone—genuine friends and loved ones value you for who you are, not what you do—but such unconditional relationships are rarer than we’d like to believe.
Stop mistaking convenience for care. Learn to identify conditional vs. unconditional relationships, so you don’t overinvest in people who only see you as a resource.
Success & Growth
15. The world rewards results — Not intentions, words, or effort
No one cares about how hard or smart you worked, how carefully you planned, how much you invested, how much you lost; they only care about the results.
All the above things are important to achieve your success, but no one cares about these. When Bill Gates & Paul Allen built Microsoft in a garage, no one cared what he did there, they only cared about what he built as the end-result. That is how life works.
Effort and intentions are important for growth and skill-building, but society, business, and life generally judge you by what you achieve, not what you meant to achieve.
Stop expecting recognition for good intentions alone—results are what earn trust, respect, and rewards.
16. Comfort zones are graveyards of potential
If you stick only to what feels safe, easy, or familiar, you stop growing, learning, and achieving your true potential. Your skills, creativity, and opportunities remain buried—like a graveyard—because nothing new challenges you to evolve.
This is one of the most important aspects of life. On a personal note, the comfort zone encapsulates everything else we are talking about.
Seek challenges deliberately; discomfort is a sign that you’re growing.
17. Waiting for the perfect time is the fastest way to waste your life
Life rarely offers a perfect moment to start, act, or change. Waiting for conditions to be “ideal” often results in inaction, missed opportunities, and regret.
Starting imperfectly allows you to learn, adjust, and improve. Waiting keeps you stagnant.
Start where you are, with what you have.
Small consistent effort beats perfect planning every time.
18. Perfectionism is a myth
Chasing an impossible standard of flawlessness can paralyze you, waste your energy, and prevent you from achieving meaningful results. There is no perfect outcome, and trying to reach it often creates more harm than good.
Done is better than perfect.Sheryl Sandberg
No matter how much effort you put in, there will always be something “imperfect” in your work, appearance, or life. Chasing perfectionism means chasing the impossible.
Constantly striving for perfection breeds stress, anxiety, and self-criticism — leaving you feeling like nothing you do is ever good enough.
Always aim for completion, not perfection.
Happiness & Fulfillment
19. The more you chase happiness, the less you find it
Happiness is often not a goal to chase outside of yourself, but a state that arises naturally when you focus on meaningful actions, growth, and acceptance. The harder you try to “get happy,” the more elusive it becomes.
True happiness comes from doing things that give purpose, fulfillment, and connection—not from constantly seeking pleasure or avoiding discomfort.
Happiness is found in appreciating the present moment, not waiting for some future achievement or circumstance.
20. Nothing is free in life—there’s always a price
Everything of value—time, knowledge, comfort, success, or resources—comes at a cost. Even things that seem “free” usually require effort, trade-offs, or hidden consequences.
Nothing in life is free. You always pay in the end.Wayne Static
Imagine the different search engines, social media sites, or other utility sites that allow you to use their services for free. Why would they do that? They have to pay their employees, hosting, domain and other assets. Where are they getting this money if everything they provide is free?
If you are getting something that looks free, be very careful. You might be paying with something valuable without even knowing it.
21. Things do matter — money, looks, past and status
Money
Determines your freedom, options, and security. While it can’t buy happiness directly, lack of it can limit opportunities.
There are only two types of people who say “money doesn’t matter”:
- Those who already possess a large quantity of it
- Those who have no hope, inspiration or known capability of acquiring it
Looks
Physical appearance affects first impressions, confidence, and social interactions. It’s not everything, but it influences how people respond to you.
Past
Your history of successes, failures, experiences, trustworthiness and reputation shapes who you are, how others perceive you and the opportunities available to you.
There are four types of people who say “past doesn’t matter”:
- Optimists and mindset enthusiasts: These people don’t let their own past influence their current decisions. They are accountable to their mistakes and prefer to correct their mistakes and never repeat them.
- People trying to escape accountability: They want to avoid responsibility for their past actions or failures, so they claim the past doesn’t matter. Example: Someone who commits an action for momentary gain despite knowing it is not a right course of action, then trying to defend their action by claiming “It’s the present that counts.”
- Novices or inexperienced people: They haven’t yet seen how past choices, reputation, or experiences influence opportunities, trust, or relationships in the real world.
- Motivational speakers or self-help rhetoric: Sometimes, they exaggerate this idea to inspire people to take action or avoid dwelling on regrets.
Status
Social standing, professional recognition, or credibility can open doors, earn trust, and provide influence.
People & Influence
22. Your future is decided by the people you’re surrounded with on a daily basis
You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.Jim Rohn
- Surround yourself with complainers? You’ll become cynical.
- Surround yourself with doers? You’ll become relentless.
- Surround yourself with lazy people? You’ll justify procrastination.
- Surround yourself with gossipers? You’ll focus on drama, not growth.
You don’t need to cut people off—but you do need to audit your circle.
List the 5 people you see most. Are they lifting you up or holding you back?
23. Being “nice” alone won’t get you anywhere — be kind, but have boundaries
Kindness is valuable, but people often exploit those who are overly agreeable or unwilling to set limits. True respect and effectiveness come from combining compassion with assertiveness.
People respect those who can say no, stand up for themselves, and maintain their integrity. Help and support others, but don’t compromise your goals, time, or well-being to please everyone.
Kindness without boundaries is weakness.
Saying yes to things that you don’t want is the worst thing you can ever do.
Whenever you’re asked to do or say something, ask yourself first, does it align with my own values? Do I want to do this? If not, say ‘no’ clearly.
24. There’s always someone better, smarter, or more talented than you
No matter how skilled, accomplished, or knowledgeable you are, there will always be others who surpass you in some way. Accepting this reality helps you stay grounded, motivated, and focused on your own progress rather than comparing yourself destructively.
If you keep thinking you’re the best (in any field), then you’re basically saying that you cannot become better than you really are. Others will always strive to improve and surpass you without you realizing.
Recognizing that someone will always be better in certain areas keeps your ego in check and prevents overconfidence. You can’t excel at everything. Understanding this lets you specialize, leverage your strengths, and collaborate with others effectively.
Takeaway: Embracing Reality = Freedom
Reality is often disappointing and that’s why it makes mediocre people uncomfortable. Facing the reality of life is not about becoming cold or cynical, it’s about accepting truth and becoming free.
The moment you stop fighting reality, you stop suffering. Pain doesn’t disappear, challenges don’t magically go away, but you become stronger, calmer, and harder to break.
These truths are not here to scare you. They are here to prepare you. When you accept them, you stop living like a victim and start living like a warrior.
We suffer more in imagination than in reality.Seneca
Acceptance of reality is not a weakness. It’s power. And it’s your first step toward building the life you actually want. Next time thinking or talking about something starts making you uncomfortable, observe these thoughts and force yourself to take this action.
Share this with a friend who might need to know this.
