Finding Happiness Without Seeking Validation from Others

“Do not seek happiness in the eyes of others, and certainly do not seek dignity in the mouths of others.” Life requires not only courage but also a commanding presence. Spending time shaping oneself is more beneficial than trying to please others. Time may not necessarily prove anything, but it certainly allows you to see through many things, to let go of many things, and to become indifferent to many things.

Yes, we live among people: someone likes you, someone dislikes you; someone envies you, someone is jealous of you; someone appreciates you, someone disapproves of you. That’s life, even if you are exceptional, you cannot please everyone. Among people, the same mouth speaks differently, the same eyes see differently, the same heart thinks differently. Why seek happiness in the eyes of others, or dignity in the mouths of others?

In life, happiness is self-given, and troubles are self-sought. When you are constantly entangled in whether others like you, you lose yourself; when you constantly seek happiness from others, your troubles multiply.

Honestly, we cannot change anyone, nor can we satisfy everyone, so why make life difficult for ourselves? The more we care about, the more troubles we have, and the harder life becomes. We come into this world not to please others, but to see how the flowers bloom, how the water flows, how the sun rises, and when the sunset occurs. Throughout our lives, we seek the life we like and the person we want to become, not to please others. Why overly concern ourselves with others’ opinions and evaluations? A thousand people have a thousand tastes, and ten thousand people have ten thousand minds. In life, walk your own path, be yourself, and leave the rest to time and conscience.

Remember, in life, dignity is self-given. There is no need to exert effort to please or resent another person. Life not only requires courage but also a bit of assertiveness. Being overly cautious and overly accommodating does not win respect; it makes others look down on you even more. Spending more time shaping and enriching oneself is truly more useful than pleasing others. After all, the underlying logic of interpersonal interaction is value exchange, and human nature is often very realistic. The degree to which you are respected and liked by others often depends on the value you hold in their hearts. As you elevate yourself and your sense of value, you will find that you suddenly become very popular. When you manage yourself well and become strong, the world will treat you with respect.

In this world, time is the best teacher. It never speaks, but through facts, it allows us to see through many things. Time is the best filter. It does not make a sound, but it repeatedly filters out the wrong people, the wrong things, and the wrong paths for us. In the course of life, we cannot change others, but we can change ourselves. Try to focus your attention on yourself. Live your life well, achieve your goals, and meet a better version of yourself. That is the most important thing. The rest, whether present or absent, is just an embellishment. In the remaining years, we must be the protagonists of our own lives, dare to please ourselves, and live according to our own standards.”