The Death of the American Dream: Is Individualism Destroying Us?

The self-made men/women and the self-made success stories are treated like a universal truth, but time and again these truths did not stand the test of time. Now, the definition of succed and progress has set on a ‘succeed and ‘progress’ paradigm.

In contemporary society, individualism and consumerism have placed us on a track where self-ambition comes at the expense of society as a whole. The unyielding pursuit of wealth, personal freedom, as well as success, has given rise to an American culture that encourages competitiveness as well as alienation. The question is, are we gaining anything in return for our efforts? Are we ultimately disconnected, frustrated, and divided?

1. The Myth of Self-Made Success: No One Makes it on Their Own

Self Made Man is perhaps a myth of American culture. We have been conditioned to believe that with enough effort and sheer will, we can achieve anything we desire, or “Just pull yourself up by your bootstraps”. But how accurate is this statement? Would it be possible for anyone to succeed without external aid?

The Reality:

• Everyone knows that success is never the fruit of solitary endeavor. Even Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, and Leaders had their share of guides who helped along the way. They had mentors, helped, and supportive networks or at times, they were just plain lucky. Achieving the so-called ‘American dream’ has always relied as much on relationships and upbringing as it has on effort. Unfortunately, the reality is that the system does not make opportunities equal for all.
• Systemic Inequality – be it from race, wealth, or social standing – has the ability to dramatically limit a person’s ability to break the social and financial shackles. The concept of the Self Made individual neglects the concept that, some people do have head starts and those head starts could be the deciding factors between success and failure.

When someone is too concerned about achieving a personal goal, this often results in setting impractical expectations that later create a sense of disappointment. This causes a feeling of failure when their life does not follow a straight path to success. This type of mentality also fosters a culture of competition over cooperation, which gravitates towards individual achievement rather than the collective good.

2. Consumerism: The New Religion of America

The switch from an industrial to a consumer based economy has greatly affected America society. Materialism is the new religion Americans worship, with brand new clothes, bumper to bumper cars, and fancy new gadgets portraying wealth. With this economy, under consumers there will be a constant fulfillment people seek. But the question arises, will this obsession truly lead to happiness or fulfillment?

What Consumerism Does to Us:

• With the focus being on the learned behavior of stuff, materialism has given rise to a culture of dissatisfaction. People are overwhelmed by the constant advertisements designed to make them believe that any purchase greater than their last will bring them true contentment and gratification. But such seeks is nothing but a let down. Sooner or later the novelty will die, and your left over with nothing.
• Cannonically speaking, all the monetary value will go down the drain while Consumerism fulfills most peoples silent suffering as psychological pain. Citizens are already suffering on an emotional status on purchase’s, and possessed items. Primarily focusing too heavily on shallow concepts will result negative achievements in self-worth and overall health.
• In addition, consumerism is not a problem of singular magnitude; it is, in fact, a societal problem. The problem of consumerism is bound to get worse considering the fact that every single material good has environmental destruction, economic disparity, and exploitation at its core. The unending demand to purchase the newest gadget or the latest fashion’s greatest curse s that it creates a vicious cycle of overconsumption.

3. The Breakdown of Social Bonds

This is a contradiction: With all of the recent emphasis on individual freedom, most of us have become completely disengaged from each other. While everybody is ‘connected’ via social media, the reality is the more one uses those platforms, the more alone they are. People have the liberty to do anything and everything at any time, which has resulted in a surplus of self-centeredness and isolation, rather than unity and joint effort.

Reconnecting: What Should Be The Motivation?

• Social detachment has become another disease to deal with in America, and it has dire effects, from mental health to productivity. The studies show that people who are socially connected tend to be happier and live longer. The issue is that we strive for personal achievement, which does nothing more than alientate us from the people who are in fact most useful to us.
• Community is everything. It is said that a nation’s strength lies not in the individual stars, but in the joint effort of everyone. When individual success takes priority over the community, we tend to lose the essence of what gives us an identity as a people: unity. Instead of joining hands to accomplish a common goal, we strive for ‘personal’ wins and end up fostering a spirit of division instead of cooperation.
• In order to change this pattern, rebuilding social connections is essential. Volunteering, joining local organizations, and caring about people beyond social media can lead to stronger communities. Without social connection, we are just individuals who are unanchored and alone.

4. The Double-Edged Sword of Technology: Progress or Peril?

Almost every aspect of our lives, from how we work, interact, and communicate, has been impacted by technology. It has increased convenience, connectivity, and creativity in ways that we could never imagine before. But, at the same time, we have become more distracted, addicted, and even exploited.

The Issue with Technology in America:

• The impact of technology on changing the workforce due to automation and artificial intelligence is negative. Issues like job loss due to automation have placed many workers without job openings, while the big tech companies utilize these new innovations and profit like never before. The growth of surveillance capitalism, associated with the monetization of personal data by tech companies, is deepening a system that considers users as commodities.
• In these modern times, smartphones and social media have changed the way we communicate, but have shifted the focus towards prioritizing interaction through devices. More time is spent by scrolling through feeds instead of indulging in meaningful conversations face to face. This, in turn, decreases our ability to genuinely empathize and understand which escalates our cultural divide.
• The damage done by technology contributes to many mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, due to unhealthy comparison. Although technology is created and designed to grab our attention, the cost to us is far greater, emotionally.

5. The New America: Will We Evolve or Collapse?

What could be the next step for America? Is there any hope of breaking from the soloistic and consumerist cycles, or will we be trapped forever?

How to Retake the American Dream:

• American success does not need to be defined in capitalist terms. Success can be redefined as not solely focused on the achievement of one individual, but can also include the achievement of the community as a whole. Achievements do not have to come at the cost of one’s freedom, but instead, people must accept the idea of social well-being.
• There must be effort from society to create and build social bonds. America owes its superpower status not to just individuals, but the existence of a robust society that supports and helps each other. This requires being active in community work, volunteering, and philanthropy.
• Minimalistic ideals need to be adopted and embraced. Happiness should not be attached to material possessions and lifestyle, however, being minimalistic is not the end goal, rather personal development, building meaningful relations, and engaging in activities will open doors to a richer and fulfilling life.

Conclusion:

Unity, hard work, and community no longer define the American Dream; rather, it has been redefined by personal gain, consumerism, and individualism. The relentless pursuit of these ideals has brought about disconnection and division on a level never seen before.

We have reached a tipping point. Instead of tirelessly pursuing an ever-elusive materialistic version of success, let us shift the focus on building a society rooted in shared values, collaboration, and strong community. Let’s not forget that true greatness does not come from isolation; it is derived from unity.

Do you think America can revive the sense of unity that has been lost? Allow your voice to be heard by joining the conversation in the comments section. Together, we can construct a brighter and better tomorrow.