Week 24: The "American Dream"

"I had strings,

But now I'm free.

There are no strings on me."

The American dream has many definitions, but from the various I read to make this week's Tuesday Drop, all center around you overcoming your surroundings, no matter the circumstances. The infamous phrase "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" to be financial and personally successful is often spread. But how much of achieving that dream is up to what you can control, vs what you can't?

1. The Problem With Hyper-Individualism: In America and Western culture, there is a higher emphasis on individual actions and working with oneself vs working with those in your community. There is a high emphasis on sacrificing time spent with others now for the possibility of a better future. In this video, Second Thought explores the validity and cost of this belief.

Watch The Problem With Hyper-Individualism by Second Thought

2. Is Success Luck or Hard Work?: When we reflect on the situations in our life, it is easier for us to know and understand the work and involvement we have in situations, and harder for us to see the outside forces at work. So when we succeed or fail in life, how much of it is actually because of our work, vs outside forces?

Watch Is Success Luck or Hard Work? by Veritasium

3. America's Overwork Obsession: What dream do we work hard for? "Work hard, make money, send your kids to college, retire to Florida. It sounds nice in theory, but the reality of work in America is dramatically different from the American Dream we've all been taught to believe in."

Watch America's Overwork Obsession by Second Thought

Call to Action! As you are going through life looking to improve your situation, try to focus on what you can work on with others among your family, friends, community, or those who share your same values or beliefs. Work smarter and with others to share the workload.

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