How to Be Happy

The answer to this question is quite simple, and that's why I've also posted this in r/AskTeenGirls because I think it is especially relevant to anyone in high school. I am an undergraduate student studying philosophy. I work with a philosopher who has spent about 8 years researching the variety of philosophies for which happiness is an end. What variety of philosophies does that comprise? All of them. <br><br>Our research, and anecdotal evidence as well, show that happiness is the end for everyone. We all want to be happy above all else, even if we need to sacrifice other things for it. The question isn't what is the end, it's what is the means. I start by saying that happiness is simple because the means to happiness is simple. To be happy, live for yourself and nobody else. Don't be held back by what others want you to do. Accept that you are selfish and that everyone is selfish. Stop trying to please people who aren't as important to you as you are to yourself, because your happiness is *your* responsibility and nobody else's. Don't wait for someone else to make you happy because they never will. <br><br>Stop comparing yourself to others. Stop feeling like you need to get good grades because your parents want you to or because your teacher wants you to. Stop feeling like you need to fit into your friends' clique. Stop caring what people who don't really matter think about you. You are the only person who can make you happy. Nobody else will ever make you happy, and the only thing you have control over is yourself. So stop trying to change the world and focus on yourself. Live for yourself, and never let anybody tell you otherwise. If they try, show them this post or message me their name and address and I'll print it out and mail it to them. <br><br>If this doesn't make sense yet, I encourage you to research Epicureanism, Hedonism, Stoicism, Absurdism, Humanism, Buddhism, Situationism, and Existentialism. Yes, these are all wildly different philosophies, but this is the thread that runs between all of them. You are responsible for your own happiness. Don't wait for someone else to set you free. Don't expect someone else to make you happy. You have to do it yourself. Don't listen to people who don't want you to be happy for yourself. It is your life and nobody else's, and if you listen to someone else and sacrifice your own happiness, nobody will ever give you that time back. <br><br>It is your life and your responsibility to live it as you want to. Nobody else will make you happy, and the only thing you can change is yourself, so focus all your attention on yourself and nobody else. If you don't want to live for yourself right now, I encourage you to wait it out because you will, and it will be the greatest moment of your life.