Independence: 249 Years In, What Are We Still Longing For?
249 years after declaring freedom, are we truly free to flourish? A call to rethink independence through the lens of Transformational Human Experiences.
As fireworks light up the night sky, many of us celebrate an idea that is both familiar and incomplete: independence. But what is independence, 249 years later, if we have yet to build a society where everyone can truly flourish?
True independence cannot stop at political or economic freedom. It must extend into the everyday experiences that allow people to thrive. That’s where the frameworks of Transformational Human Experiences (THX) give us a new lens: they help us see that independence, at its best, is not just functional — it is transformational.
Introducing the THX Frameworks
✅ 12 Utilities
A checklist for what makes an experience genuinely useful and supportive:
Availability – Is it there when you need it?
Access – Is it easy to reach or use?
Security – Do you feel safe and protected?
Clarity – Do you understand what’s happening?
Ease of Use – Can you engage without friction?
Accuracy – Does it do what it says, reliably?
Speed – Does it happen quickly enough?
Consistency – Is it dependable over time?
Closure – Is there a satisfying sense of resolution?
Emotion Evoked – How does it make you feel?
Resource – Does it save you time, money, or energy?
Value – Is it worth it, including hope, opportunity, and reputation?
✅ PERMAH
A positive psychology model for flourishing — the pursuits we value for their own sake:
Positive Emotion – Experiencing joy, hope, or gratitude
Engagement – Feeling absorbed and energized
Relationships – Building supportive connections
Meaning – Having a purpose beyond survival
Achievement – Progressing, growing, succeeding
Health & Wellbeing – Nurturing physical and mental strength
These elements are at the core of our humanity. They transcend the day-to-day and reshape how we see ourselves, the world, and our place in it. They unlock creativity, nurture dreams of freedom and growth, and empower the best of who we can be. America, at its best, has made flourishing possible for many precisely because it has met enough of the 12 Utilities that people could focus beyond usefulness to the deeper pursuits of PERMAH.
✅ Admiration Equation
A model for understanding how positive, “other-praising” emotions make us loyal, proud, and connected:
Admiration of Skill – “They are so good at what they do!”
Admiration of Goodness – “They truly care.”
Awe – “I didn’t expect it to be this amazing!”
Gratitude – “They really came through for me.”
When we experience these positive, multi-sensory micro-moments consistently, and any unpleasant moments are resolved well, we become immersed in a new reality. That immersion moves us outward: we become pro-social — more willing to help our neighbors, support those who do not look like us, talk like us, or live like us. We see not the fear of their differences, but the bonds of our shared humanity. We celebrate what brings us together.
Why These Ideas Matter Now
America has never perfectly delivered the Admiration Equation to everyone. Too many people are still left out because they lack even the basic 12 Utilities. They are forced to focus on survival, never reaching the flourishing experiences of PERMAH. Too many live in fear of oppression, of losing their freedom, income, homes, or safety. PERMAH is nearly impossible under these conditions.
And America has, far too often, violated the Admiration Equation — harming people unexpectedly, failing to resolve injustices, withholding the Utilities that make flourishing possible.
Yet, when America gets it right, we are admired at home and abroad. When we get it right, we thrive. But it is hard. We lose focus. We forget that we flourish together, not in an “us versus them” battle.
Loss, Fear, and Prospect Theory
Fear of loss is powerful. Prospect Theory shows us that we feel losses more intensely than we feel gains of the same size. That fear can trigger us vs. them thinking and justify dehumanization, the removal of others’ Utilities, and the quashing of PERMAH. Instead of admiration, awe, and gratitude, we breed frustration, anger, and fear.
We cannot build a flourishing society from a foundation of fear.
The Missing Piece: Listening
Leaders — and each of us — need to talk less and listen more. Really Know Your Customer (or Constituent) is a reminder to truly hear people across every background, every town, every city, every gender, every race, every economic circumstance. From the coasts to Appalachia, from immigrant families to fifth-generation Americans, we must listen to understand — to discover our commonality, and to appreciate, not attack, our differences.
As Patrick Henry told the Continental Congress, “I am not a Virginian, but an American.” It is fine to hold on to your local or cultural identity. But it is our diversity that makes America great — and our unity that makes it flourish.
A Final Reflection and Prayer
We must acknowledge our failures. We must look ourselves in the mirror and admit where we need to repair relationships and rebuild trust. We must discover what makes us admirable, and humbly be that. It is not our place to demand admiration; it is our place to behave admirably.
That is my prayer for you, and for us, this year. That in this 250th year to come, we may come together like never before to build a more perfect union — a union where independence means everyone has the right and the resources to flourish.
Engagement Question
👉 Where do you feel most independent — and where do you still feel bound? What would true independence look like for you?
Further Reading Suggestions:
Martin Seligman, “Flourish” (for PERMAH foundations)
Daniel Kahneman & Amos Tversky, “Prospect Theory” (for loss aversion insights)
Transform the Human Experience archives: 12 Utilities explained