There’s a difference in being directly able to control an outcome, and in being able to indirectly contribute to it.
Not long ago we started a little garden behind our house. Around the same time I was also backfilling some holes in the yard and planting grass seed over the top. In both cases, seeds were going into the ground with the expectation that these seeds would grow and flourish.
Now, I could have a thorough understanding of what’s necessary for the seeds to sprout and develop, but that in itself doesn’t guarantee the outcome I’m looking for. I could plant them at the right time, and make sure they have the right amount of sun and water. I could ensure the soil has the proper nutrients and pH balance. And yet, I still can’t force each seed to grow perfectly. Some will; some may not.
This same dynamic happens all around us. We can’t make someone learn something. But, we can provide them with information that could be useful. We can’t make someone agree with us. But we can share with them what we’ve experienced. We can’t force someone to develop a certain skillset. But we can create environments where they’ll have the opportunity to grow.
Cultivating the right environment for growth to happen doesn’t guarantee the outcome we’re looking for, but it can go a long way in contributing to it.