The American Dream
Chasing the Unknown in Modern Society
All our lives, we have been told that if we work hard enough we will be able to achieve all we have ever wanted. A large house, a fancy car, and enough income to sustain us for the rest of our lives and our family lineage.
As beautiful as this dream this, there is very little truth to it. It would be a beautiful world if everyone was able to live this dream. However, the unique circumstances each individual is faced with, as well as the many hurdles are thrown at one create uncertainty in life.
While a large amount of the population falls into this trap and tries to achieve The American Dream regardless of the mental and physical pressure they place upon themselves, many are left disappointed. This disappointment is created with the endless subliminal messages given to us during our school life and the early stages of our career, from teachers to parents and everyone in between. We’re constantly taught the same repeated message,
If you work hard enough, you’ll be just as rich and successful as this person
While this message is partially true, there are some underlying issues attached to this that create problems for individuals later in life.
The truth is many people work hard, sometimes working multiple jobs while trying to keep up with their social life, personal life, and all while trying to achieve their career goals. While this may come from a place of determination and motivation, it often creates a mindset that one can only be accepted in society once one achieves monetary wealth. This monetary wealth will now deem a person “successful” and “fulfilled” by society. Along with that, individuals are told to strive for a nuclear family, while attaining their successful career and continue to strive for this lifestyle.
While the dream sold to us is glamourous, a very small population can achieve it. Instead of earning to live, many live to earn. This, in turn, feeds into the capitalist mindset, allowing the rich to grow richer and the poor to increasingly get poorer, therefore increasing the gap between the lower and upper classes.
Instead of living, we’re taught to constantly chase material wealth. Promises of a better future are sold to us through major corporations as they sell their product or service in return for the hope that one day our dream may one day come true. Truth is, life does not come with a guarantee. There is no formula to life. Many born in poverty work harder than those born in lower or middle-class households or the 1% percent that own and control a majority of assets and still barely escape their financial condition.
While working hard and goal setting is a positive start to living a better life, external circumstances should be considered. While I believe in accountability and taking control of one’s life, the truth is only a handful of things are in one’s control.
Instead of trying to achieve The American Dream that may still be subconsciously sitting in your head, write down all your long-term and short-term goals. Little by little, work your way to achieving them. When something doesn't go according to plan, understand that the circumstances may have been out of your control.
Understand that there is more than one way to achieve your dreams. Instead of trying to achieve The American Dream to later flaunt to your peers, sit down and think whether it is for you. While we all dream of living a comfortable life, think about whether you want this lifestyle for yourself or to seek validation from those around you.
Chasing monetary wealth leaves one feeling drained while adding little value to our life. The concept of The American Dream was originally to live a life of
equality, justice and democracy for the nation
However, after the cold war, it slowly turned into the consumer capitalist version of democracy, which is what we’ve been sold today. While the original dream was based on improving the life of a nation, it is now based on an individualistic model that feeds further into the capitalistic model of society we adhere to today.
While it is unclear when the shift happened in history from a community-based mindset to an individualistic mindset, the solution is as simple as living a life of simplicity. One that isn’t boastful and based on helping everyone grow together as a community, and as a nation. Striving for positive change in society instead of material wealth.
Perhaps, it’s time we created a new dream.
Sources
Magazine, Smithsonian. “The Original Meanings of the ‘American Dream’ and ‘America First’ Were Starkly Different from How We Use Them Today.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 1 Oct. 2018, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/behold-america-american-dream-slogan-book-sarah-churchwell-180970311/.
