My own, which I'm not sure is a prayer beyond feeling like one, goes "if I work and think hard, and don't stop, I will make progress." Progress is the goal of each step and the goal on the horizon provides the direction to step in.

when it’s forced, when I plan it

This is a familiar boss in the self-actualization game. I think we install this boss because without a plan, it's not our failure when failure happens. Then we tell ourselves it wasn't meant to be, because if it was meant to be it wouldn't require effort.

This boss represents something true - if you don't try, you can't fail. But also: if you don't try, you can't succeed ... at things that require trying ... which is pretty much everything.

IMO obstacles are the only thing "meant to be" and success is what happens when you overcome them.