When Hard Work No Longer Feels Enough: Why the ‘Work Hard, Get Ahead’ Promise Is Fading

Have you ever felt like no matter how hard you try, the finish line keeps moving? You’re not alone. A growing number of people across the U.S., Germany, France, and beyond are questioning a foundational belief: that hard work alone will lead to success. A recent international survey by the OECD reveals a striking shift in public sentiment. Many young people, especially in developed nations, now believe that the playing field is tilted—that effort no longer guarantees upward mobility.

This decline in belief is more than a philosophical debate. It’s reshaping our health, our stress levels, and the choices we make each day.

The Erosion of a Core Belief

The concept of meritocracy—the belief that anyone can achieve success through hard work and dedication—has been deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of many Western societies, particularly in the United States. It’s a message we’ve seen in classrooms, popular media, and political rhetoric: effort equals opportunity. But increasingly, this promise is wearing thin.

A 2023 international survey conducted by the OECD revealed that a majority of people across 27 countries no longer believe that hard work is the main factor in getting ahead. Instead, respondents pointed to wealth, family background, and personal connections as the primary determinants of success. This perception is especially prominent among young people who are entering adulthood in the wake of economic crises, a changing job market, and widening wealth inequality.

Economic data adds weight to this shifting belief. In the U.S., the Federal Reserve’s 2023 report on household well-being found that nearly 40% of adults would have difficulty covering an unexpected $400 expense. This figure has persisted for years, pointing to systemic stagnation in financial security for working Americans. Meanwhile, in parts of Europe, particularly in France and Germany, youth unemployment remains stubbornly high despite rising education levels.

What we’re seeing is a growing disillusionment with the idea that effort alone can overcome structural disadvantages. Rising living costs, unaffordable housing, student debt, and fewer stable job opportunities have created a reality where many feel they are running on a treadmill—exerting energy, but never moving forward. This erosion of belief isn’t just about economics; it’s about identity, motivation, and trust in the social contract.

When young people feel that the rules have changed and the goalposts have shifted, it’s not just ambition that falters—it’s well-being. The consequences ripple out into mental health, physical health, and societal engagement. And unless addressed, this widespread skepticism may further deepen generational divides and weaken our collective sense of progress.

How This Impacts Your Health

Believing that your effort no longer influences your future can lead to more than just disappointment—it can fundamentally alter how your body functions day to day. When personal agency feels diminished, it activates deeper biological and psychological processes tied to uncertainty, emotional fatigue, and loss of purpose. Unlike occasional stressors that the body is equipped to manage, this kind of chronic, low-grade distress can quietly wear down your health over time.

One significant effect is emotional depletion. This isn’t the same as temporary burnout; it’s the persistent sense of being overwhelmed, mentally foggy, and emotionally numb. Researchers describe this as “learned helplessness”—a psychological state where repeated exposure to uncontrollable situations causes people to give up trying altogether. This mental withdrawal is strongly associated with depressive symptoms, reduced motivation, and lower life satisfaction.

Physiologically, this mindset can disrupt metabolic health. Studies show that feelings of social inequality and diminished control are linked to elevated inflammation markers in the body—a precursor to chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and even cognitive decline. Individuals under this kind of perceived threat often experience changes in appetite regulation, leading to emotional eating or disordered eating patterns that further destabilize mood and energy levels.

Sleep, too, often suffers. When the mind is preoccupied with fear of failure or hopelessness about the future, it becomes harder to wind down at night. Poor sleep quality has a cascading effect on memory, emotional regulation, and immune response, all of which are essential for overall resilience.

What makes this particularly troubling is that these health effects don’t always present dramatically. They accumulate quietly—a headache here, a skipped meal there, or that nagging fatigue that never seems to go away. Over time, the body’s capacity to adapt becomes compromised, making it more difficult to bounce back from even minor setbacks.

Recognizing this connection between perceived systemic unfairness and physical health is the first step. It allows us to shift the narrative from self-blame to self-compassion, creating space for intentional recovery and healing habits.

What You Can Do When the System Feels Unfair

When you’re up against a system that feels unresponsive or unjust, it’s easy to slip into passivity. But there’s a powerful distinction between accepting what you can’t control and reclaiming agency where you can. Even in the face of economic or social barriers, the choices you make each day—especially around your habits and mindset—can directly influence your resilience and long-term health.

Begin by grounding yourself in daily rituals that foster a sense of stability. These aren’t about productivity or optimization—they’re about establishing rhythm in a world that often feels chaotic. Research shows that predictable routines can reduce anxiety by creating structure and decreasing decision fatigue. This might be as simple as eating meals at regular times, setting boundaries around screen use, or dedicating five minutes each morning to quiet reflection.

It’s also essential to preserve your sense of identity and self-worth outside of achievement metrics. When society emphasizes success as something earned solely through effort, it can be deeply discouraging when effort doesn’t yield expected outcomes. Reframing your value based on qualities like compassion, creativity, or consistency—not just productivity—can help you weather external setbacks with greater inner peace.

Another overlooked tool is environmental awareness. The people, places, and digital spaces you engage with each day shape how you feel. Take an audit of what lifts you up versus what drains you. Are there voices in your life that constantly focus on negativity? Are there social media feeds that leave you feeling less-than? Editing your environment, much like editing a toxic ingredient from your diet, is a subtle but powerful act of self-protection.

Finally, pay attention to recovery—not just rest. True recovery means creating intentional space to recharge mentally and physically, rather than simply collapsing at the end of a long day. This could be movement, creative expression, nature time, or even nourishing yourself with gut-friendly, anti-inflammatory meals that restore internal balance. By reinforcing your recovery practices, you build the stamina needed to face challenges without burning out.

No one can control the larger systems alone. But when you focus on your inner ecology—your habits, mindset, and environment—you begin to reclaim the ground you stand on. You become your own steady foundation, no matter how shaky the world around you may seem.

Reimagining Success in a New Era

After reflecting on actionable strategies for well-being, it’s also valuable to zoom out and explore a deeper, often unspoken shift underway: how we define success. The old blueprint—get good grades, work hard, climb the ladder—no longer fits today’s economic realities or mental health priorities. For many, that ladder has missing rungs. Instead of continuing to chase a version of success that may be outdated or inaccessible, it may be time to rethink what thriving truly looks like.

Reimagining success means shifting focus from external validation to internal alignment. Are your daily actions aligned with your values? Are you investing in relationships, experiences, and practices that restore rather than drain you? Fulfillment doesn’t always come with a title or paycheck—it often lives in the quiet, unmeasurable moments: a sense of purpose, connection, growth, or even just peace.

More people are now prioritizing mental health, flexibility, and meaningful work over prestige or salary. This doesn’t mean ambition is obsolete—it means ambition is evolving. It’s becoming more personal, more holistic. And that evolution deserves respect, not shame.

Rewriting the success narrative also creates space for community-based progress. When systems falter, collective well-being becomes a more meaningful metric than individual gain. Mutual aid networks, cooperative businesses, shared housing initiatives, and mental health advocacy are examples of how success can be communal rather than competitive.

The most resilient people aren’t those who follow the rules of a broken game—they’re the ones who reimagine how the game can be played. You get to decide what winning looks like now. And sometimes, success isn’t a destination. It’s a way of being.

My Personal RX on Staying Strong When the System Feels Broken

As a physician, I’ve seen the toll that economic uncertainty and social frustration take on people’s health. While we work to change the system, we must also care for ourselves. Here are 10 practical ways you can support your well-being, even when it feels like your effort isn’t being rewarded:

As a physician, I’ve seen the toll that economic uncertainty and social frustration take on people’s health. While we work to change the system, we must also care for ourselves. Here are 10 practical ways you can support your well-being, even when it feels like your effort isn’t being rewarded:

1. Reclaim Your Meals: Prepare balanced meals with intention. What I call “Mindful Meals” can help regulate blood sugar, stabilize mood, and reduce stress-related cravings. With Mindful Meals’ ready-to-enjoy, balanced options, you get stable blood sugar, activated mindset, and the healthy energy that makes both punctuality and creativity easier.
2. Support Gut Health Daily: Add a targeted supplement like Mindbiotic, designed to nourish your gut-brain axis and improve emotional resilience.
3. Create Routine: Even in uncertain times, structure brings comfort. Maintain consistent sleep, meal, and movement schedules.
4. Focus on What You Can Control: Redirect energy to actionable steps like budgeting, career development, or skill-building.
5. Limit Doomscrolling: Constant negative news inflames anxiety. Set boundaries around media consumption.
6. Exercise for Endorphins: Regular physical activity reduces stress hormones and boosts mood-enhancing chemicals.
7. Connect with Others: Isolation increases stress. Prioritize genuine, supportive relationships.
8. Practice Gratitude: Shifting focus to what is going well can reframe your mindset and improve your mental health.
9. Build Internal Boundaries: When external systems feel overwhelming, strengthen your internal ones. Set mental boundaries around your time, emotional labor, and availability.
10. Seek Professional Support: Therapy, coaching, or support groups offer tools and community during tough times.

Sources: 

OECD. (2023). Hard work, privilege or luck? Exploring people’s views of what matters most to get ahead in life. https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2023/11/hard-work-privilege-or-luck-exploring-people-s-views-of-what-matters-most-to-get-ahead-in-life_708e201f/e1903ab2-en.pdf

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. (2023). Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2022. https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/2022-report-economic-well-being-us-households-202305.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Harvard Health Publishing. (2023). The gut-brain connection. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-gut-brain-connectionCryan, J. F., & Dinan, T. G. (2012). Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 13(10), 701–712. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3346