Luck, Ability, and the Necessity of Effort

 

It is true that I give great importance to luck and destiny.

However, that does not mean I completely disregard ability, talent, or skill.

Luck can never replace competence.

A person may be extremely talented, highly skilled, and capable of doing great things, but if circumstances never support them, their journey can become considerably more difficult. Even then, ability can still take them a long way.

But when a person possesses neither ability nor luck, success becomes extraordinarily difficult.

This is why I believe that destiny and ability must be viewed together. Luck can open a door. But competence determines what you do after entering.

The Hitopadesha expresses this beautifully:

“उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्ति कार्याणि न मनोरथैः।

नहि सुप्तस्य सिंहस्य प्रविशन्ति मुखे मृगाः॥”

“All tasks are accomplished through effort, not merely by wishing for them. Just as a deer does not walk into the mouth of a sleeping lion, the lion must make an effort to hunt it.”

The meaning is simple. Hard work and effort are indispensable.

Even a person with favourable destiny cannot simply sit idle and expect success to arrive on its own. Luck may create an opportunity, bring the right person into your life, or place you in the right circumstances.

But ability and effort are what allow you to use that opportunity.

A person with ability but little luck may still struggle, but they can continue building their way forward.

A person with luck but no ability may receive opportunities, but may not possess the competence required to sustain them.

And a person with neither ability nor luck faces the greatest difficulty of all.

Therefore, I do believe in destiny. But destiny is not an excuse for incompetence.

Luck may determine what comes toward you. Your ability and effort determine what you do with it.