Every year on the Fourth of July, Americans celebrate freedom.
It’s one of the defining ideas of the United States. Politicians talk about it. Advertisements celebrate it. Schools teach it.
But after living in Mexico for several years, I’ve started asking a different question:
What does freedom actually feel like?
Because while America talks about freedom more than almost any other country, I personally feel more free in Mexico.
Not because Mexico is perfect.
Not because there aren’t problems.
But because the everyday experience of freedom – the little freedoms you enjoy without even thinking about them – is very different.
I call these soft freedoms, and they’re one of the biggest reasons I continue choosing to build my life here.
What Are Soft Freedoms?
When most people think about freedom, they think about constitutional rights, elections, or political systems.
Those things matter.
But they aren’t what you experience every morning when you walk outside your front door.
Soft freedoms are the freedoms that shape your daily life.
They include questions like:
- Can you enjoy public spaces without constant restrictions?
- Do you feel like you’re being watched everywhere you go?
- Are you constantly asking permission to live your life?
- Can you make everyday decisions without worrying about violating another rule?
These are small things individually.
Together, they have a huge impact on how free you actually feel.
Why I Feel More Free in Mexico Every Day
One simple example is my dog, Rocky.
If I’m working from my office in our local plaza, Rocky can spend the day running around with other neighborhood dogs.
Nobody cares.
Nobody is threatening tickets.
Nobody is calling the authorities.
People simply let dogs be dogs.
In many parts of the United States, that same situation could easily end with fines, complaints, or someone insisting another rule needs to be enforced.
It’s a small example.
But hundreds of these small examples add up over time.
That’s why I genuinely feel more free in Mexico than I did living in the United States.
Freedom in Mexico Looks Different
Interestingly, people in Mexico don’t constantly tell you they’re the freest country on Earth.
You don’t hear endless political slogans about freedom.
Instead, many people simply live with a different level of personal autonomy.
That doesn’t mean Mexico has no regulations.
It certainly does.
But culturally, there’s often more room for personal responsibility instead of assuming every situation requires another rule.
As someone building businesses while living abroad, I’ve found that refreshing.
The Growing Trend Toward Less Personal Freedom
This isn’t just about Mexico.
Across much of the Western world, we’ve seen gradual increases in surveillance, regulation, and government oversight.
Examples include:
- More public surveillance cameras
- Expanding digital identification systems
- Increased monitoring through technology
- More regulations governing everyday behavior
- Greater restrictions on speech in some countries
Each change may seem small.
Each one is usually justified as protecting the public.
But taken together, they slowly reduce the amount of personal freedom people experience.
That’s why I think it’s important to look beyond political slogans and evaluate what daily life actually feels like.
AI Will Make This Question Even More Important
I’m incredibly optimistic about artificial intelligence.
If you’ve followed Entrepreneur Expat for any length of time, you already know I’m a huge believer in AI.
AI allows entrepreneurs to build businesses faster than ever before.
It helps small teams compete with large companies.
It creates incredible opportunities.
But every powerful technology has trade-offs.
The same AI systems that improve productivity can also make surveillance dramatically more effective.
Whether that’s facial recognition, digital identity systems, or automated monitoring, the technology exists.
The question becomes:
How much of it do societies choose to adopt?
That’s one reason I pay close attention to countries that still value personal autonomy and individual choice.
Why Countries With Difficult Histories Often Value Freedom More
One thing I’ve noticed while traveling is that countries with firsthand experience of authoritarian governments often appreciate freedom differently.
Mexico lived under decades of one-party political dominance.
Many countries in Eastern Europe experienced communism.
Former Soviet nations understand what excessive government control can look like.
Because they’ve experienced it, many people are cautious about giving away freedoms too easily.
That’s an interesting perspective that isn’t always appreciated by people who have never lived through those systems.
Moving to Mexico Isn’t About Escaping – It’s About Creating Options
This isn’t about claiming one country is perfect.
No country is.
The goal isn’t to run away from problems.
The goal is to create options.
That’s where residency abroad becomes incredibly valuable.
When you have legal residency in another country—or even multiple countries—you gain flexibility.
You gain resilience.
You gain optionality.
If policies change where you currently live, you aren’t trapped.
You have choices.
That’s real freedom.
How Residency Creates True Freedom
One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that relocating abroad is about leaving your home country forever.
For most of our clients, that’s not the goal.
Instead, they’re creating a Plan B.
Sometimes even a Plan C.
A second residency can provide:
- Greater lifestyle flexibility
- More geographic options
- Better tax planning opportunities (depending on your situation)
- Increased business mobility
- Peace of mind during uncertain times
You may never need those options.
But having them is freedom.
The Real Definition of Freedom
The older I get, the less interested I am in political marketing.
I’m much more interested in asking practical questions.
Do I enjoy my daily life?
Do I have choices?
Can I build my business where I want?
Can I raise my family the way I want?
Can I make decisions without constantly asking permission?
For me, those are the questions that matter.
That’s why I genuinely feel more free in Mexico than I did living in the United States.
Ready to Build More Freedom Through International Residency?
If you’ve been thinking about moving to Mexico, obtaining residency in Mexico, or creating a true international Plan B, we’d love to help.
At Entrepreneur Expat, we help entrepreneurs and investors build lives with more freedom, more flexibility, and more optionality through international residency and relocation planning.
The goal isn’t simply to move abroad.
It’s to build a life where you always have options.
Schedule a consultation today and let’s build your path toward true freedom.
