Work hard for what you want because it won't come to you without

Hear, O children of endurance, the voice of Leah LaBelle, who proclaimed: “Work hard for what you want because it won’t come to you without a fight. You have to be strong and courageous and know that you can do anything you put your mind to. If somebody puts you down or criticizes you, just keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.” In this teaching lies the eternal law of struggle and triumph. Nothing of worth is given freely; all that shines must be forged in fire, and all that lasts must be earned through persistence.

The meaning of this wisdom is plain and yet profound: life will not hand you your dreams. To reach them, you must labor, sweat, and endure countless obstacles. There will be critics who mock, doubters who sneer, and failures that weigh heavily upon you. Yet the heart that is strong and courageous refuses to surrender. It transforms every insult into fuel, every defeat into a lesson, every challenge into a stepping stone. The secret of victory lies not in avoiding hardship but in using hardship to climb higher.

The origin of these words comes from LaBelle’s own journey as a singer and artist. Rising in an industry marked by fierce competition and frequent rejection, she learned firsthand the necessity of resilience. Her quote echoes the battle cry of countless souls who, despite being told “no,” despite facing doors slammed in their faces, chose to fight on. Her voice joins the timeless chorus of those who discovered that greatness is never given—it is taken through courage and persistence.

Consider the life of Harriet Tubman, who fled slavery and could have sought only her own freedom. Yet she returned again and again into danger, leading others to liberty. She was mocked, doubted, and hunted, but she turned every threat into fuel for her mission. Her strength, her courage, her unyielding belief in herself and her cause made her a legend of freedom. She embodied LaBelle’s teaching: to transform opposition into something positive, and to fight relentlessly for what one believes in.

Think also of Thomas Edison, who was told as a child that he was too slow to learn. Teachers dismissed him, critics mocked him, and his inventions failed thousands of times. Yet he refused to yield. Instead, he transformed each criticism into determination and each failure into progress. His inventions illuminated the world, proving that a mind armed with belief and persistence can achieve the impossible.

O seekers of tomorrow, learn this: you cannot escape the fight, but you can choose how you wage it. If you run from hardship, you will find only regret. But if you embrace it with strength, you will discover your true power. The voices that seek to tear you down cannot harm you if you refuse to let them shape your heart. Instead, make them your teachers—let their scorn sharpen your resolve, let their doubt harden your will, let their negativity ignite your flame.

Practical wisdom calls you: rise each morning ready to labor for your vision. Write your goals plainly, so that even in moments of discouragement you may see the path ahead. When criticism comes, pause not to despair but to ask, “How can I use this to grow?” Surround yourself with voices that encourage, yet never depend upon them alone—believe in yourself most of all. And when defeat strikes, as it surely will, rise again, stronger than before, carrying with you the lessons it taught.

Therefore remember Leah LaBelle’s teaching: “Work hard for what you want… be strong and courageous… keep on believing in yourself and turn it into something positive.” Let these words be your armor in the battle of life. For in the end, victory belongs not to the swiftest, nor to the most gifted, but to the one who refuses to yield, who transforms every wound into wisdom and every trial into triumph. Such a soul cannot be defeated, for they carry within themselves the unconquerable flame.

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