Are We Really Influenced by the World Around Us?

Gol free living flies in the face of a good amount of wisdom about personal development. Why is it that we're so influenced by the world around us when it comes to what we value in our lives? People were making decisions not based on their own wants, needs and desires, but rather on external factors. There'se certain things that we are just so amazing at, that if we don't tap into that, it's just, it's a shame.