What is Success?

What is it to be successful in America? 

Is success defined by how much money you own? Or the clothes you wear? Or how much happiness you have? Although a denotation of success is "the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, or fame," true success is much deeper. Success, in my opinion, is when you are satisfied with what you have done and how your life is going, no matter your wealth, respect, or fame. Success does not define you; you define success. No one can tell you how successful you are; only you can distinguish that yourself.

In America, we have established the ideals of the "American Dream" as our goal. Although this notion has changed multiple times throughout history, James Truslow Adams defines it as "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth. He touches on the point about wealth and ways of life but not individual satisfaction. If you are rich and live a seemingly happy life, it does not necessarily mean you are successful. Under the physical mask of happiness could lie the scarred flesh of discontentment. 

For example, the major movements in American history involve women and African-Americans. The ultimate goal of both of these movements is to create full rights with no limitations and segregation. You could arguably say they were "successful" to an extent. On the outside (the mask), people view these movements as done and over. They were a complete success! However, on the inside (the flesh), there are still the lingering effects of marginalization that exist even to this day. African Americans are still not treated 100% equally as whites and the same goes with women in juxtaposition with men.

Overall, success in America shouldn't be a concrete goal that everyone tries to follow. It should be you who sets your own goal for success, not the majority. No one likes a bandwagon-er.