As a country, the United States has progressed faster than many others. People around the world immigrate to America for the opportunities that are available in the nation, creating a melting pot of diverse cultures that establish a foundation for further possibilities. Because of this, the American Dream has become a commonly known term pertaining to the expansive opportunities for success in the United States. It has become a symbol of the ideal life in America, something that all people aspire to attain. Supposedly, anyone, regardless of their background, can achieve prosperity if only they work hard and maintain their determination and grit. As of late, however, a question has arisen about the true likelihood of ever achieving that dream. Although many feel that the American Dream is still within reach in the eye of the law with the assistance of equality and a lifetime of hard work, it is time to reevaluate this mindset and shift our perception of the dream in order to live a more substantial life, free from the unrealistic expectations of extreme success.

The United States has created a setting with seemingly fair and infinite opportunities for all, making the American Dream a viable possibility. Even from the birth of the country, it was established that all men are created equal. The Declaration of Independence details the extent to which everyone has the same rights on an equal playing field, and therefore equal chances at success. Consequently, the belief is that success is accessible for each individual and much easier to achieve than in any other country. It was upon this principle that the American Dream was conceived, and it was upon this principle that people began to feel that all opportunities are dependent upon one’s ability or achievement. America has given people the opportunity to prove their worth through their potential and merit, therefore allowing people to rise in stature based not on their background, but instead on their individual selves. Those in the United States have the ability to chase the American Dream because they are relatively oppressed by strict social orders that have gradually developed in older countries that give severe advantages to those of higher status. In this way, the idealistic concept of the American Dream still feels possible, due to the unique establishment of America and the fluidity of its social pyramid.

Even so, as society progresses, distrust in the American Dream has only risen. Housing, in particular, a considerable part of the dream, has become a questionable aspiration. Owning a home opens the door to almost infinite possibilities, including investments and buying power, leading homeowners upon a path toward the glowing destination of success. However, this foundation of homeownership is now an intimidating ambition in the current economy, with lower inventory, skyrocketing interest rates, and bigger mortgage payments. The housing market has made it difficult for anyone to buy a home, and therefore difficult to follow the path toward extreme accomplishment. This signifies the beginning of the end — the harsh reality that the romantic concept of the American Dream is truly becoming more of a fanciful dream than a plausible reality in the current national landscape. Furthermore, consumer debt, which has gone up every year since 1958, gives people the illusion that they’re making their way effectively toward the American Dream, when in reality, they’re digging their way into a deep hole of financial issues. Modern credit cards and loans, which allow people to purchase various goods and commodities without actually having possession of the money to do so, sink people into debt as interest and bills pile up over time. In some cases, the American Dream, which constantly nudges many toward achieving something astronomical in order to attain the trophy of fame, wealth, and status, stimulates the need to borrow and buy as an investment for the future. However, this debt weighs people down over time, ironically pulling them away from their dreams.

Although the United States does provide the opportunity to grow and achieve great things based on ability and merit, those who still believe that the American Dream is accessible to all fail to recognize the recent developments that have necessitated a change in perception of this dream. On one hand, America is unique in that there exists an abundance of choice in occupations and education. In this manner, Americans may feel they have greater chances of success and of achieving high ranks in the social stratification, making the American Dream seem like a perfectly feasible venture. Despite these vast opportunities, the chance for the extreme success dreamed of by many has shrunk due to an array of factors, from the decaying housing market to consumer debt. This creates disparities between different groups of people — only some of whom are able to afford these drastic changes. This creates an environment where the glamorous version of the American Dream is smothered for everyone else. Those who were born into a specific social position, often with wealth and connections, have a higher chance of realizing this dream, while those who were born into more unfortunate circumstances have a harder time finding as much success. In this way, while technically accessible to all, the American Dream, as a golden standard of extreme success, is truly only attainable to some. The issue is that money and material goods persist as indicators of happiness and status, and as a result, many people aim to access a flourishing supply of money that seems to be the answer to all of life’s obstacles. But what is the true value of tremendous wealth and grandeur beyond maintaining a certain social image and remaining within a certain social circle? It has become increasingly apparent that as one’s net worth increases, so does their spending. More money comes with more responsibilities. With a respectable and well-paying job comes the desire to purchase expensive clothes and cars, go out to exquisite restaurants, and keep up a specific reputation that suddenly seems expected. Happiness is not derived from $100 bills. Instead, money almost becomes a burden rather than a relief after hitting a certain point. Because of this, Americans must shift their mindset. The American Dream is not fundamentally about stardom or extreme success. What used to be considered “success” is no longer a defining characteristic of what Americans should aim for today. It should be recognized that fame and extraordinary wealth are not equivalent to living a substantial life. The American Dream is no longer about continuously rising in social rank or continuously increasing wealth from one generation to the next. The current national landscape gives way to a new continuity: the preservation of a stable middle class, where each generation can live happily and comfortably without perpetually straining to become astonishingly wealthy and successful.

Even though many people, from CEOs of large corporations to glamorous celebrities, have shown signs of extreme success as a result of hard work and social fluidity, it has become increasingly clear that wealth and fame don’t indicate as much happiness and substance in life as the American Dream originally painted it to be. Money isn’t a requirement for living a substantial life. People should begin to recognize the significance and ampleness of their current surroundings, instead of perpetually pursuing an extravagant lifestyle that has lately become incredibly difficult to attain. The American Dream should be a dream of felicity and contentment, not exclusively wealth and fame.