The Change.
Americans utilize their experiences of the past to motivate to make self-changes to drive them closer to reaching the American dream, as highlighted in their reflection on dignity, morality, and actions of courage and cowardice. This idea of dignity-to-morality-to-courage transformation, otherwise known as the success-trait theory, is supported by Americans reflecting on the dignity they possess, using this to help make morality-questioning decisions, rethinking their morality of their past-actions as a sense of moral guidance for their present-day lives, and using their moments of cowardice in the past to fuel them to be courageous in the present.
As Americans grow with age, so does their dignity with life experiences, thus providing them with a stronger sense of right and wrong, because of their expansive collection of experiences. Also, Americans then develop a sense of empathy for others as they age and mature. This sense of understanding is crucial for their strengthening of their understanding of morality, which then in-turn provides them with yet another vital determining factor for their use in progressing through the stages of the success-theory. Finally, Americans can then reflect and build upon their acts of cowardice yesterday to help them act courageously today. Just like how Holden returned home to let his sister's conscious be at ease, and how Tim opened up to the world about his experiences and actions to help him, and others cope with post-war life.
This notion leads us to recognize that self-worth and value for others, or dignity, teaches Americans the value of hard work. With value, comes strives to increase the value of one's work. The value of hard-work grants Americans comprehension of the ethics of their actions, integrity, and their action's impact, otherwise known as morality; in a sense acting as a filter to maintain one's integrity in the professional field. Thus, with possession of a conscious-understanding of dignity and morality, Americans will finally be able to understand when actions of courage are necessary. These three factors teach Americans hard-work, becoming and remaining ethical in their work, and when to accept responsibility for their actions, or to be courageous, even when it may be inconvenient for one's self.