A dialogue between a teacher and a student.
Student : Teacher, sometimes..I really feel life doesn't pay me back the way I want it to...I mean the efforts that I put in ..I never get deserving outcomes. Though , I try to give my best in the moment ..my outcomes are never satisfactory. This somewhere demotivates me to work hard...I think if I don't get deserving outcomes..then what is the use of working so hard in my life? I feel like giving up on it. Moreover, I also feel there are people who don't work as hard as me but are able to get good outcomes and I really don't understand how?
Teacher : Calm down , Child...First and foremost...It is not about others , it is only "about You". Why should even people matter to you?? or Why should it matter to you what they get in their lives?? It is not your job child. It is you who has to understand that everyone has a different story..Not everyone is equal and what people get in their lives too varies. Just look within yourself, analyze your capabilities and weaknesses ...use your strengths to give the best in the moment and work on your weaknesses in order to be a better human being. This is how you can achieve the most as an "Individual."
You also need to understand..there is not everything that you can control in life. Outcomes are uncontrollable in nature. What at max, you can do is to give your best in the moment and the rest you should not think about. I know child..it becomes a demotivating factor for you if you don't get satisfactory outcomes and the ones who don't deserve get good outcomes but then just think "Should it really stop you from working hard in your life in order to achieve your Dreams?" Think..."Is the demotivating factor more powerful than what you want to achieve in your life??" I think it is "Not"..Again, I will repeat the same thing..."It is not about others , it is only "about You." You are here to live your own life...you don't need to look what is happening in the lives of others. Just forget about people ( what they think about you or what they have got their lives). Learn to be stoic towards these shallow things, focus and be determined..then only you will be able to reach your inner self and will be close to your dream . Don't let the demotivating factor collapse you.
Student : But Teacher, you said to give your best in the moment..Tell me, if a person gives best in the moment then is it not natural to expect good outcomes?
Teacher ( smiles and says) : Child...Why do you have to expect outcomes..I told you ...They are uncontrollable in nature. Infact, they don't work according to you. "Expectations" are one of the prominent reasons that makes people feel demotivated or gloomy, when not fulfilled. So, learn not to expect things..just let it go with the flow. Give your best for a thing which is in your control and rest you should leave it. Child.... I understand you are going through a turmoil and you won't understand all of this in a moment. So, give yourself some time. Ponder over, what I said...ask questions to yourself and seek answers to those questions ( with the help of the points I told you).This surely, will help you to be out of the pit that you have placed yourself in. Child, you also mentioned about giving up because of your demotivation but before you let these negative thoughts conquer your mind..Just remember these lines by "John Shedd":
" Ships in Harbour are safe, but that's not what ships are built for."
Child : Thank you Teacher, for being there for me..listening to me..giving me answers to those questions that I couldn't get from anyone else.
Teacher(smiles and says) : God bless you , Child.