There is an expression that I hear tossed around frequently that bothers me. "You can do anything you put your mind to." Really? If I try very hard, I can play defensive tackle for an NFL team? No chance in hell! Most defensive tackles weigh over 300 pounds, not to mention they are immensely athletic. It's pretty obvious that my 6 foot 165 pound frame would have absolutely no chance at making it in the NFL. We need to accept that due to genetics, some things are out of our reach.
So why do we want to believe that we are capable of anything? Everyone has limitations. We all have a unique set of strengths and weaknesses that should be utilized accordingly. It's a simple concept: we should use our strengths to our advantage and minimize the impact of our weaknesses. For example, if you are good at math but are not artistic, become an actuary. Don't try to become an artist. And odds are we will enjoy doing what we are naturally good at because, let’s face it, everyone likes to WIN and everyone likes to be successful. In other words, we will usually gravitate toward what we are good at to begin with.
While I think the notion that we can "Do anything we set our minds to" is a silly one, I also believe it is well intentioned. It's all about working hard and putting your best foot forward. Hard work is important; it will generally pay off. And if the hard work doesn't pay off then it most likely increased your odds of success, which I consider to be a moral victory in and of itself. There are a lot of scenarios in life where there is a winner and loser. It is always worthwhile to work hard and maximize our odds of success, regardless of whether or not our efforts are fruitful.
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