I am a firm believer in the saying, "Everything happens for a reason." Maybe it's comforting when times are tough, maybe it's nice to say when life takes an unexpected turn, whether good or bad, but it's a phrase I often like to live by.

But, I think this saying tends to get a bad rap. Some believe that those who own this mantra are lazy; that they let life take control of them instead of taking control of life themselves. While I do believe that everything happens for a reason, I don't believe that this is an excuse to be lazy.

When you put the work in, you get good results out of it. If it's not meant to be, even if you tried your hardest, then that is what was meant to be. This is what it means to truly embody the mantra of "everything happens for a reason." It does not mean that you let life walk all over you and take the mediocrity it offers you as a result; instead, you work hard to achieve your goals, always making sure to put in your best effort. And if the result is desired, then that's fantastic. But if it's not, then it simply was not meant to be yours. Even if the result is not desired, you can take pride in your hard work and dedication.

So, if your mantra is "everything happens for a reason," then fully embody this by working hard. Don't use this an excuse to be lazy; use it as a tool of pride and comfort when things don't go as planned.