Games of skill that also incorporate chance are somewhat helpful for developing this. Unfortunately a lot of those games are also closely associated with gambling (e.g. Bridge, Poker, Backgammon), which is perhaps something we don't want to encourage.

I find deckbuilding games to be decent examples of this. At relatively close skill levels a bad draw can be the difference between winning and losing. It still takes a certain level of introspection to figure that out. Almost all elementary-school aged kids will conflate success with skill, even in games that are pure chance.

There is definitely some advantages to processed based thinking, but I think it comes with tradeoffs of it's own.

I've seen a lot people personally who get stuck in a loop of trying and failing. Each time they'll say to themselves 'I did my best' but a result based framework would have told them 'what you did didn't work and you need to try something _different_ next time'.

You are absolutely right. I didnt mean to imply that these was nothing else that goes along with it.

People should totally inspect their efforts and methods in light of their successes and failures. This is how you learn and improve. Your best is not merely how much effort and sweat you put into something, but also your thoughts and methods.

That's one of the main tenets of the Stoic philosophy. The hardest too.

It acknowledges the role of probability in your life. Sometimes things work out, and sometimes they don't. It's not that you have control, or you don't. You have some control, sometimes.

This has always been my line of thinking. Im glad I found the Stoics later to agree with me.

I will admit just this once that maybe I too readily tell myself that I did my best. Sometimes. Often? Please have this message self destruct in one hour.

On the other hand, if you think you did your best, but you keep failing... maybe you actually are wrong about something, and the world is giving you a honest feedback.

There is a similar idea in the book "atomic habits" by James clear : focus on process not outcome. that’s one of the best advice I ever read.

Wouldn't the challenge be what does it mean that 'one tried their best' ? By using the word best there, it becomes yet another goal.

I think that is a good point.

Im not saying dont have goals or desires. Im not saying to ignore if you succeed or fail either- that is important data and part of learning.

To me - Trying my best means looking back to identify things I know I could have done better with more dedication. Could I have done better with the knowledge and tools I had.

>By using the word best there, it becomes yet another goal.

This is kinda the point. Doing your best becomes a goal in of itself. You have 100% control over it and get the satisfaction of meeting it, independent of if you meet your other goals or not. It builds self respect