Solution:  Do It Yourself - "It" being as much as you can manage.  Most people can manage a lot more than they think they can!

Why We Need It:  Our culture is full of "experts" and "specialists", and we're led to believe that virtually anything we do is better left to a "trained professional".  This leads to a nation full of people who think very narrowly of their own capabilities, don't trust themselves, and don't try to help themselves.  This is in sharp contrast to original American ideals, when independence, not dependence, was the law of the land.

Why You'll Like It:  Doing it yourself is satisfying!  Instead of claiming ignorance and spending money to get every little thing done, you'll learn a lot, get the project taken care of, save money, and have fun.

In Depth:  Want a sign that the American culture is overly dependent on "experts"?  Look no further than the recent advent of so-called "life coaches".  These enlightened individuals help desperate, incapable people live their lives, advising them on everything from organization to relationships to work decisions (don't miss the sarcasm inherent in that sentence).  In reality, these con artists are nothing but scammers capitalizing on the new American attitude - lack of confidence in ourselves.  Certainly this is an extreme example, but it's symptomatic of the problem as a whole. 

Turn this attitude on its head and do it yourself!  Need to change the oil in your car?  Fix your bicycle?  Make a delicious meal?  Produce your own food?  Raise children?  Build a house?  Do it yourself!  Yes, you can.  What may seem at first like a daunting task will, with a little self-education and trial and error, become a part of your life that you can easily take care of.  There is very little in our daily lives that we actually can't take care of, and much that we aren't willing to take care of.  As a result, we spend our days working in indirect relation to our personal lives, in our own narrow area of "expertise", making money that we can then spend on things that matter in direct relation to our personal lives.  Cut out the middle man and work directly on things that matter directly to you.  You'll save money, and be more content because of the more direct ties to your own life.

As a well-rounded individual, not only can you help yourself, but help your community members, neighbors, and friends, as was the original American way.  Take these three steps towards greater independence:  1. Attitude - change the way you think about yourself and your abilities.  2. Education - the internet is a wonderful educational tool, available to anyone, as well as the good old-fashioned library.  And of course, talk to friends and neighbors who might know more than you do!  3. Initiative - take initiative and get started.  Nothing's ever going to get done if you just sit there, afraid of the project!  Dive in, get your hands dirty, and enjoy the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

Check out our DIY section for DIY ideas, and our Solutions section for other helpful info.