Virat Kohli clarifies his definition of struggle vs hard work: ‘Aapko koi nahi bol raha gym jaane ke liye’

“I am grateful, actually. I feel very privileged to be doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I play a sport, which is my profession. If you think about the problems I have in life, I mean, you cannot compare getting out in a test series to not having a roof in a house,” he told Kapoor.

Reflecting on his statement, Rutuja Walawalkar, Psychologist at Mpower, Aditya Birla Education Trust, told indianexpress.com that as human beings, the way we interpret our efforts deeply impacts not only how we perform, but also how we experience life’s challenges.

“In our cultural narrative, struggle has often been romanticised. We hear stories of ‘fighting against all odds’ and overcoming obstacles, and somewhere along the way, constant hardship became equated with virtue. It often leads people to believe that unless they are visibly struggling, their hard work does not truly count or deserve success. But from a psychological lens, this conflation is problematic,” she explained.

According to her, hard work is effort directed towards a meaningful goal, often involving discipline, persistence, and sacrifice. Struggle, on the other hand, carries a sense of resistance and emotional suffering. “When we romanticize struggle, we end up glorifying stress and burnout, while missing the real value of consistent, meaningful effort,” she said.

For athletes, professionals, and young people striving for their dreams, this distinction matters. (Image source: @pubity/X)

So why do people tend to see their hard work as a struggle?

At the core, Walawalkar explained that people find meaning by framing their experiences as narratives. “When someone experiences setbacks, framing it as a struggle helps them feel their journey is worthwhile, even heroic. In cultures that celebrate achievement, struggle is frequently viewed as proof of authenticity, as though enduring hardship makes one more deserving of success,” she detailed.

Finally, equating struggle with effort can also be a defense mechanism: it validates the pain one has endured, making it easier to cope with difficulties, she said.

Yet, as Kohli rightly points out, there is strength in recognising the distinction. Walawalkar said that reframing “struggle” as “hard work” does not diminish one’s journey; it honors dedication without unnecessarily attaching suffering to it. This shift is not just semantic; it is psychological.

She believes gratitude and humility play a transformative role here. Gratitude allows individuals to see effort as a privilege rather than a punishment. Instead of dwelling on what is lacking, gratitude helps us focus on the resources, opportunities, and support systems that enable hard work. Research in positive psychology shows that grateful individuals demonstrate greater resilience, higher motivation, and better overall well-being.

Humility, on the other hand, reminds us to stay grounded no matter how much we achieve. “When one acknowledges that success is not just the result of personal effort but also of circumstances, guidance, and teamwork, it reduces ego-driven pressure and prevents over-identification with struggle,” she shared. Humility fosters acceptance: the path may not always be easy, but it needs not be glorified as suffering.

For athletes, professionals, and young people striving for their dreams, this distinction matters. Walawalkar shared that viewing effort as meaningful hard work, rather than as perpetual struggle, encourages perseverance without emotional exhaustion. It helps individuals embrace the process, celebrate small milestones, and remain connected to their values.

According to her, Kohli’s insight is timely. Success is not about how much one has struggled, but about how consistently one has worked hard with discipline, gratitude, and humility. By shifting our lens, we can free ourselves from the weight of struggle and instead, truly embrace the dignity of effort.