Success Does Not Mean Autonomy

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The American Dream. Something so many of us strive for.

The definition of the American Dream by Merriam-Webster is:

a happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful

For me, the key word there is “successful”.

In our pursuit of success we have this unspoken desire to be self-governed or autonomous. Meaning that we desire to do what we want, when we want to do it, with whom we want.

I believe there are a few reasons we have this autonomous desire deeply rooted in us as Americans.

1. Some of us grew up poor and relied on other people and “success” to us means that we will never ever rely on someone else again.
2. We see so many people “making it” and achieving “success” and they make it look “so easy”.

But the reality most often is that:

• It doesn’t happen fast enough.
• It doesn’t happen big enough.
• Maybe it looks like it isn’t going to happen at all.