So many nuggets of wisdom here!

Our modern way of life is moulded around what others say constitutes happiness.
We are living in depressing times, not because the times have changed, but because we try and conform to what this faceless other trys to tell us.

Society seems to have been focused on raising good followers, good citizens, good conformers. And the powers that be have succeeded. We take our direction from others like the “social media influences,” we deem responsible for determining what "good" is, as you so well described. We give our power away, sometimes blissfully unaware, sometimes with great effort.

I also found a connection to your last post about the greatest lies we tell ourselves.

The mental health industry is constantly in the clutches of the “big pharma” problem, or in other words, people (read: doctors and psychologist) can easily fall victim to the lures of financial gain due to the prescription of medication.

We give our power away here too - implicitly trusting the health care professionals to have our best interest in mind, when in fact, they may have different motives, or simply be unaware of other options. (I touch on this too in my latest post about Homeopathy for Healing and Disease Prevention.)

I am of the same mind, that

We should take a step backwards and ask ourselves, like Epicurus constantly did, how might I mould the world so that I can achieve happiness?

And further, understand that we have that power to determine what equates happiness and health for ourselves. Thank you for posting such interesting ideas to ponder. 🌱