Unmake Yourself

The economy is hitting everyone pretty hard. This is not news. People are losing their jobs, their homes, and with them often times their sense of place and purpose. Have you ever noticed how the second thing American's ask in polite society after "Hello how are you / nice to meet you / how do you do" Is "What do you do?". A person from Finland pointed out how odd that was to me once. America has a really weird emotional and social connection to its collective work ethic. Out of all the industrialized nations America is one of the VERY few not to have legally reinforced universal paid vacations. We are also life style chasers and mad consumerists.
So the question is, How much of what you want in life is just something that you have been sold on wanting?
And I'm not just talking investments like buying a house, or lifestyle choices of where you shop.
At some point in time concerning everything you like or have been drawn to ever, every idea, romantic idealism, band, fashion trend, what ever - at some point it popped into your head that it was cool, admirable, positive, bad ass, or what ever your personal psychology terms as "Good". But how did you get there and who did the programing? Under what fundamental assumptions have you made every move in your life? Who do you think you are? And who exactly is the future you that you now are so eager to get to or accommodate?
And what if all these things are wrong?
What if every thing you are drawn to, or have been sold on pursuing ultimately does nothing but pull you further from fulfillment, and peace of mind and the ultimate reality of your own personality? In which case, would the stalwart of forward motion really be a delay, or an opportunity to reset your coarse? If every door of opportunity closed, would you jump from the remaining window?
And if ultimately your sense of self was what wasn't working, could you unmake your self and become some one else entirely?
Could you look in the mirror and completely redirect your life in accordance to your true psychological needs and personality, and stop your ego from pushing you to chase the delusion of who it would be "cool" to be? Or what adults and peers always said you would be when you grew up?

Just an odd thought.