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What do you think about impact of the phrase 'nothing is impossible if you work hard enough' ?

shaumom
shaumom Posts: 1,003 Member
edited 8:26AM in Debate Club
1. As the phrase 'nothing is impossible if you work hard enough' is not literally true (we wouldn't tell someone who is blind that they could see if they worked hard enough, for example), what do you assume the 'real' meaning of this phrase usually is? And I'd use this for variations of this idea, too - 'you can do anything if you put your mind to it,' 'all you need is hard work in order to succeed in life,' and so on.

So...what does this phrase mean to you?


2. When you hear phrases like this used, is the general tone positive or negative, or somewhere in between?

Like, positive might be encouraging someone who is feeling like they will never meet their health goals, and reminding them that they are working hard so they are going to see results. Negative might be shaming someone who hadn't met their goals, implying that they would be doing better if they had been working harder.

3. Based on how you hear it being used most often, do you think this phrase promotes a certain type of attitude among people who exercise, and if so, is it a good one?
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Replies

  • goldthistime
    goldthistime Posts: 3,213 Member
    It is more negative than positive for me too. I'm more likely to think "But...", than to be spurred to action by it.
  • clicketykeys
    clicketykeys Posts: 6,577 Member
    I like the way Tiana's dad put it best: You wish and dream with all your little heart. But you remember, that old star can only take you part of the way. You got to help out with some hard work of your own.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Trite but optimistic.
  • shaumom
    shaumom Posts: 1,003 Member
    General consensus seems to be on the negative side, I think. That is actually where I tend to view it as well.

    Mostly because while I have heard people say that it is used for encouragement, when they defend the idea or the idiom.

    But I mostly see it in practice used as a shaming technique, or used by those who have very little understanding or knowledge of someone's experiences or situation, but seem to think they should be giving this type of advice.

    I really like that Angelou quote, though - haven't seen that one before!
  • dutchandkiwi
    dutchandkiwi Posts: 1,389 Member
    edited October 2017
    shaumom wrote: »
    1. As the phrase 'nothing is impossible if you work hard enough' is not literally true (we wouldn't tell someone who is blind that they could see if they worked hard enough, for example), what do you assume the 'real' meaning of this phrase usually is? And I'd use this for variations of this idea, too - 'you can do anything if you put your mind to it,' 'all you need is hard work in order to succeed in life,' and so on.

    So...what does this phrase mean to you?
    This is complete bogus and self delusion. Plus the laws of physics are a massive boundary.
    People overestimate what is possible and it sets you up for failure. It lets people think that by saying that anything is possible that those that don't want it or can't are failures. It also means that people will get easily discouraged as most things take A LOT of effort, work and dedication. It is simply not always achievable with life. Plus it many ways it is complete bogus. No way I'd ever be a say olympic gymnast. I am not built that way, I don't have the base talent to build upon and even with hard work it would have been impossible for me.

    That said I do feel that hard work/training/effort to achieve something you want is a good thing. Nothing comes completely for free. You have to do something an most people are capable of a lot. Self belief is paramount, Self delusion is what comes with this phrase IMO. Two different things.
    We can't all be an Elon Musk or Steve Jobs. What they do/did is special They did work often incredibly hard but their story is also peppered with a lot of luck of the being at the right place at the right time meeting the just perfect people type. And yes overcoming obstacles too but the luck part is underestimated. Working hard is important, but it is never ever the whole story.

    shaumom wrote: »
    2. When you hear phrases like this used, is the general tone positive or negative, or somewhere in between?
    Totally negative IMO it sets up for failure and victim blaming. It basically states you failed because you did not work hard enough, which is often complete b*llsh*t
    shaumom wrote: »
    3. Based on how you hear it being used most often, do you think this phrase promotes a certain type of attitude among people who exercise, and if so, is it a good one?
    See answer to 2
  • bingo_007
    bingo_007 Posts: 101 Member
    tomteboda wrote: »
    I don't mind it because "within the limits of physical reality" is a codicil my mind puts on EVERYTHING as a scientist. The phrase clearly doesn't mean you can turn into a ball of incandescent gas if you try hard enough. But it does handily summarize the truth that excellence and achievement of a great many things require a LOT of effort and perserverence. These traits are being increasingly disapproved of in common discourse now.

    That is how I think as well. I think a lot of the boundaries we have are our own and we need to push the boundaries to improve and get better. I feel that there days people don't have the patience to persevere and put in a lot of effort. Not every goal is available for everyone but does not mean you can't reach your own'personal best.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I have no problem with it. I mostly hear it said to children and while it's not true I think it can motivate them. By the time they are old enough to know that it's false they will hopefully also be wise enough to understand that there are limitations, as I would assume (hope) most adults are.

    'You will never know what you can do until you try' is better IMO. Maybe I could have played center field if I'd tried hard enough. I'll never know.
  • jesspen91
    jesspen91 Posts: 1,383 Member
    It reminds me of this annoying guy. Even as a child there was something that irked me about his message. Yes, some things are impossible! Accepting that is a part of life.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnfFBspNrN8
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    shaumom wrote: »
    1. As the phrase 'nothing is impossible if you work hard enough' is not literally true (we wouldn't tell someone who is blind that they could see if they worked hard enough, for example), what do you assume the 'real' meaning of this phrase usually is? And I'd use this for variations of this idea, too - 'you can do anything if you put your mind to it,' 'all you need is hard work in order to succeed in life,' and so on.

    So...what does this phrase mean to you?


    2. When you hear phrases like this used, is the general tone positive or negative, or somewhere in between?

    Like, positive might be encouraging someone who is feeling like they will never meet their health goals, and reminding them that they are working hard so they are going to see results. Negative might be shaming someone who hadn't met their goals, implying that they would be doing better if they had been working harder.

    3. Based on how you hear it being used most often, do you think this phrase promotes a certain type of attitude among people who exercise, and if so, is it a good one?

    1. I would interpret those phrases to mean the person saying them believes other people are being lazy if they are struggling to achieve something. I think it is more judgement than encouragement and not realistic. Often it is said by people who had an advantage to those starting with much less. I think it is pretty obvious that you have to work to achieve goals. Not every goal is realistic for everyone even with hard work.
    2. Negative, condescending tone usually.
    I think when people want to be positive and encouraging they would acknowledge the goal is achievable, note what the person is already doing and what they can realistically do in steps. Like "Sure, you can run a marathon someday. You just started running and are already improving your speed and distance. There is a 5k in a couple of months. Why not train for that for the time being? Keep working at it!"
    3. I think it is part of an attitude promising unrealistic, unhealthy results- like you can get an airbrushed model's body if you diet and exercise hard enough. I think taking such a phrase to heart contributes to disordered thinking or injury.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    tomteboda wrote: »
    I don't mind it because "within the limits of physical reality" is a codicil my mind puts on EVERYTHING as a scientist. The phrase clearly doesn't mean you can turn into a ball of incandescent gas if you try hard enough. But it does handily summarize the truth that excellence and achievement of a great many things require a LOT of effort and perserverence. These traits are being increasingly disapproved of in common discourse now.

    This makes sense to me.

    I don't think I've noticed the phrase, though. Is it common now?

    I'd probably put in in the category of stuff people say to be encouraging that they haven't really thought through and don't mean literally and not really notice it, so it's possible I've heard it and not really noticed it.

    I do think that physical limitations have to be acknowledged and assuming that someone else is struggling or has failed to do something that you have done because they just didn't try is wrong. I'm struggling with the line between encouragement and accepting that someone just can't do more than she is with my mother now, as she's been sick for a while (chronic health condition) and is currently recovering from a broken hip and not doing as well as they want her to be, and after a point apparently the insurance will stop covering some of the extra therapies for the physical recovery from the injury as not likely to succeed. I would not use this particular phrase, obviously, but it is genuinely tough to know what to do (and my father is convinced that my mother could try harder and is not, whereas I am less certain she's not simply doing all she can).

    Wow, wasn't really intending to go off about this!
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    Given the anger about it, I am curious in what context people are being told "nothing is impossible if you work hard enough." Thinking more, I really can't imagine a scenario in which someone has said it to me, or would.
  • GottaBurnEmAll
    GottaBurnEmAll Posts: 7,722 Member
    lemurcat12 wrote: »
    Given the anger about it, I am curious in what context people are being told "nothing is impossible if you work hard enough." Thinking more, I really can't imagine a scenario in which someone has said it to me, or would.

    No one's ever said it to me, but I'm not one of the angry ones.

    I'd probably just laugh at them if someone said that to me.
  • YvetteK2015
    YvetteK2015 Posts: 654 Member
    I've never heard it said to anyone other than young children. In fact, I've been saying this to my 4 yr old niece. She has said to me that she wants to be an astronaut, a doctor, a teacher, and a few other professions. My response has been "honey, you can be whatever your heart desires. She's not old enough to understand what hard work really means, but when she gets older I will say that to her. I'd rather say that to her than say "you know, you might have your expectations set a little too high, and you may have some physical limitations later, so you might want you rethink you prospects down the road".
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