The American Dream is a worthy objective for anyone living in this country. It is the belief that anyone can accomplish their vision of success because of the opportunities that are open to them.
And what better place to pursue the American Dream than in the city that is considered the birthplace of the country: Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love has so much historical significance, and there are many opportunities available for individuals who want to reach their potential.
Many aspects could be considered tenets of the American Dream, and accomplishing them is not always easy. Here are a few tips to help you reach this potential.
Homeownership
One of the staples of this belief is owning a home. Though you can certainly accomplish much when renting a living space, there are a few benefits that are available only to homeowners that make buying a more attractive option.
For example, buying a home in Philadelphia allows you to take advantage of building equity. With every mortgage payment, you are paying down the principal.
After a while, you can use that equity to refinance for cash or earn more money from selling the home. Another benefit of ownership is the ability to make improvements. Renters are limited in changes that they can make to the property, but homeowners are not boxed in by those limits.
Find a Career to Match Your Interest
While the saying “find a job that you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” may be overused, it does not mean that it is untrue. Pursuing passions is a crucial element of reaching your potential.
The more you care about your profession, the more likely you are to work hard at it and continue an upward trajectory. The key is to understand how your personality can match the perfect career.
Your personality grants you certain strengths and weaknesses. Identifying those characteristics and then researching jobs that align with them can help you find a profession or industry that will leverage your best assets or mitigate your worst ones.
Focus on Physical Health
The American Dream is only possible if you can lead a long and happy life. Poor health makes this incredibly challenging. Ignoring the needs of your body can weaken the immune system and cause premature degeneration of your system as you get older. This will make it harder to maintain the level of functioning that is required for your lifestyle.
Physical health should be a priority so that you can enjoy life to its fullest without constant pain and diseases, at least those that you have control over. Prioritizing your body means getting consistent sleep, exercising regularly, drinking plenty of water, and eating a nutrient-rich diet. Instilling these practices in your routine will improve your quality of life, allowing you to enjoy your success in other areas.
Don’t Forget About Mental Health
Fortunately for us all, the world has begun to understand the importance of individual mental health. The condition of your mind and emotions are just as important as that of your body. You could be in the best shape of your life, but if you struggle with anxiety or depression, it can make life far more challenging.
Remembering to invest in mental health is critical, even if you do not typically associate it with the concept of the American Dream. Speak with a therapist to talk through your emotions and struggles.
Practice mindful breathing to calm your thoughts and focus on simple body functions. Consider starting a journal to record your experiences and track personal progress.
Redefine Success
The last and most important aspect of pursuing the American Dream is to redefine success for yourself. That is the beauty of this concept. It is completely flexible to be whatever you want it to be.
Success may include a house and a perfect career for some, but that does not have to be the case for you. Perhaps success for you means raising a family from children into successful adults.
Perhaps you want to start a business and you do not care about being rich but simply providing an important product or service. Whatever you think the American Dream entails, redefine it so that success is catered to your goals.
Accomplish Your Goals in the Great City of Philadelphia
Many cities around the country are intriguing places to live, but none of them offer the blend of historical significance, culture, and opportunities that Philadelphia can.
Though everyone faces various obstacles to success based on where they are born and how they are raised, there are still many opportunities to pursue the American Dream.
Whether that means homeownership, a career, physical fitness, mental health, or redefined success is up to you entirely.