I want to live in Effington

Why cant people just do what makes them happy? I see so many people that underneath it all are just miserable because their actions are dictated by expectations of others. Whether trying to impress or just meet those expectations. Im not saying that there arent things that we do in life that we wont like but in the big scheme of things why would you ever do something that isnt making you happy in the long run. There is enough pain and strife in this world without these self inflicted wounds. Its just something I hate to see.....