Your Elementary Teacher Lied to You!

One of the most inadvertently destructible words of encouragement that has be repeated over and over again is the idea that "if you work hard, you will accomplish anything".  This well meaning sentiment has been echoed by coaches and teachers and parents and well-meaning supporters for centuries (or at least decades).  The intent is to encourage us to work hard so that we can reach our potential.  "Your success is completely in your control."  Is it?  The truth is that this statement creates a false sense of reality.  The truth is that we may work hard and never accomplish what we may desire, especially when the goal has more variables that are not in our control than we may realize.  There are some things that are completely out of our control, therefore guaranteeing success leads to false expectations.  The truth is that "working hard will increase the probability for success and the harder you work, the more probability will be in your favor."   The underlying benefit of this type of mindset is that if forces us to realize that the harder we work, the higher the probability, while the original statement leaves "hard work" in a relative and self-defined state.  I may think I am working hard and then "where is my success"?  Success is typically a bi-product of overcoming adversity and being resilient.  We need to work hard and and if our desired success doesn't arrive, then we need to work even harder to increase the probability.