Choose Yourself

We find ourselves in a new era where external validation—like the stable corporate job or the comfortable assurance of a steady pension—no longer exists as it once did. After major economic downturns and technological shifts, many traditional support systems have disappeared or no longer guarantee security. Rather than let external forces dictate our worth, this book proposes a dramatic alternative: choosing ourselves to flourish on our own terms. Here, the author’s personal stories set the stage. From facing repeated failures, losing homes and fortunes, to rebounding by discovering fresh opportunities, these prompts show that success or contentment isn’t found in an outside gatekeeper’s stamp of approval. Instead, it demands an inner transformation that involves keeping our minds, bodies, and spirits healthy. It also requires us to become self-reliant and creative in our approach to earning a living and defining success. In the pages that follow, you will see how harnessing your own energy, focusing on daily self-care, and embracing the “idea machine” mindset can lead to tangible breakthroughs. We begin with how the myth of the American dream unraveled, and why it’s time to forge your own path.

This introduction highlights the shift from a time when stable jobs and mass security were normal to an era where personal initiatives and creative expression now matter most. No matter how bleak the economy or your personal circumstances may seem, a renewed dedication to “choosing yourself” offers new frontiers of hope and momentum.

Get ready to explore a toolkit for transformation—one that shows us how to let go of outdated constraints, reclaim our personal power, and build a life rooted in self-directed opportunity. We start by examining how our collective obsession with stability led us astray.

For decades, many believed in a promise: work hard in a respectable job, buy a house in the suburbs, support a nuclear family, and retire with benefits. This was marketed as “the American dream.” Yet as the economy evolved—through inflation, outsourcing, technological upheavals, and real estate booms and busts—this dream began to crumble. Middle-class wages stagnated while prices climbed, forcing people to take on mortgages and credit card debt to keep pace.

Eventually, constant spending and easy credit led to a crisis, exposing how fragile that dream really was. Jobs vanished or turned into low-paid gigs, and the supposed safety net evaporated. As dramatic downturns revealed, many were left deeply in debt, with no reliable corporate ladder to climb. Today, “regular” employment can be a fleeting arrangement, leaving millions in a precarious spot.

But this collapse also signals an opening: with fewer institutional anchors, you have the power—and necessity—to chart your own course. Instead of waiting for promotions or approvals, you can forge your own career through smaller costs, cloud technology, or self-publishing. The old illusions of security cracked, making obvious the need to rely on personal resourcefulness and healthy collaboration. We can no longer outsource our happiness or success to a system that no longer cares.

In sum, this shift didn’t just hurt the powerless. Out of the rubble, many discovered that real freedom lies in choosing themselves. Building on that realization is the essence of our next steps.