{"id":42526,"date":"2017-03-07T22:55:40","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T06:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?page_id=42526"},"modified":"2017-03-07T23:13:45","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T07:13:45","slug":"lessons-mythology","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/lessons-mythology\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Life Lessons We Can Learn From Ancient Greek and Roman Mythology"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Triumph_of_Achilles_in_Corfu_Achilleion\"<\/p>\n

Dear friend,<\/p>\n

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve gained a lot of inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman Mythology.<\/p>\n

Life and death<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

In ancient Greek\/Roman Mythology \u00e2\u20ac\u201d they talk a lot about the underworld, ruled by Hades (hell).<\/p>\n

To me, I don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t believe that heaven and earth exist as physical places after we die. Rather, I think of heaven and hell as a concept\u00e2\u20ac\u201d of our lives here on earth.<\/p>\n

I believe if we live a virtuous, purposeful, and loving life\u00e2\u20ac\u201d we are living heaven on earth.<\/p>\n

If we are living a life of desire, misery, anxiety, fear, and desire\u00e2\u20ac\u201d we are living a life of hell on earth.<\/p>\n

Why live a miserable life?<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

I have no idea what will happen to me after I die, but I believe we can avoid \u00e2\u20ac\u02dchell on earth.\u00e2\u20ac\u2122<\/p>\n

I have been meditating upon these thoughts by studying a lot of ancient Greek\/Roman mythology.<\/p>\n

A lot of these tales are lifted from Seneca\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s tragedy on Hercules<\/a> .<\/p>\n

I will start with a few random stories, and head on more towards the ancient mythologies:<\/p>\n

1. Why reach forward in life?<\/h2>\n
\"1200_10\"
Joseph Mallord William Turner ‘The Shipwreck’, 1805<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

> The sailor; life ever at risk; commits his canvas to the winds, while the breeze fills its flapping folds. – Seneca<\/p>\n

For me, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve always thought that happiness in life was to gain more. Gain more money, power, and influence.<\/p>\n

That is what we are taught in America, and most of the western world.<\/p>\n

However, living life always lusting for more is like being a sailor, who has been ship-wrecked several times, but attempting to sail the cruel sea again.<\/p>\n

Takeaway point: Enjoy what you already have<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Why do we keep putting our lives at risk?<\/p>\n

I like the idea of finding more contentment in the things, life, and people we *already* have. Rather than sailing the turbulent seas, risking a ship-wreck (and death) \u00e2\u20ac\u201d why not enjoy our beautiful, calm, and peaceful homes at the shore?<\/p>\n

2. The shortness of life<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

> Known to but few is untroubled calm; and mindful of times swift flight; hold fast the days that will never return. – Seneca<\/p>\n

Very few of us know what \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcuntroubled calm\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 feels like. Many of us are living lives of anxiety \u00e2\u20ac\u201d constantly checking our emails, scared of getting trouble from our bosses, afraid of the results of our stock investments, and always afraid of losing it all.<\/p>\n

I feel that \u00e2\u20ac\u02dchappiness\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 in life is more about peace, tranquility, and calm \u00e2\u20ac\u201d not living an \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcexciting\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 life.<\/p>\n

Takeaway point: Enjoy today<\/h3>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

One of the ways I am able to find more peace, contentment, and happiness in life is to enjoy today. To know that time flies faster than a falcon. When a day passes, it will never return.<\/p>\n

So for me, I have no idea what will happen tomorrow. Or if I will be alive tomorrow.<\/p>\n

So let us enjoy the best of today. To hug our loved ones, to count our blessings, and do meaningful creative work today.<\/p>\n

3. Life doesn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t slow down<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

As I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m getting older, time is flowing forward even faster:<\/p>\n

> Life speeds on with hurried step; and with winged days the wheel of the headlong year is turned. – Seneca<\/p>\n

The winged days \u00e2\u20ac\u201d they fly away. And once the wheels of time turn forward, you can never turn them backwards.<\/p>\n

Just like the ancient Roman tale\u00e2\u20ac\u201d the ( Moirai<\/a> ) women who string the threads of life \u00e2\u20ac\u201d you can never go backwards:<\/p>\n

The harsh sisters ply their tasks; yet they do not split backwards the threads of life. – Seneca<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Atropos<\/p>\n

Takeaway point: Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t waste your life<\/h3>\n

When I was younger, I was in a rush to live. To succeed. To accomplish. To buy all this stuff I wanted.<\/p>\n

I wasted a lot of time. The biggest lesson I learned from Cindy was this:<\/p>\n

> Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t waste your life.<\/p>\n

The idea of \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwasting your life\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 is different for everyone. For me, a \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcwaste of life\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 is worrying about what others think about me, desiring more material things, more money, more fame, and more power.<\/p>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

Now, I try not to waste my time by doing meaningful work. Creative work that I hope empowers others. Like this blog post, articles<\/a> , books<\/a> , photos, videos<\/a> , or even the words of advice I give my close friends and family.<\/p>\n

But at the same time, you want to enjoy your life. To know how to enjoy time.<\/p>\n

For example, I think it is a good investment to have a relaxed, 3 hour dinner with loved ones and friends. It isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t a good investment wasting 3 hours on a business meeting that might not go anywhere.<\/p>\n

4. Anger is like blood-thirsty war<\/h2>\n
\"Triumph_of_Achilles_in_Corfu_Achilleion.jpg\"
Achilles dragging Hector’s dead body \/\/ Illiad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

> Arms observe no bounds; nor can the wrath of the sword, once drawn, be easily checked or stayed; war delights in blood. – Seneca<\/p>\n

Anger has fucked up so much in the world. The problem with anger\u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is like blood-thirsty war.<\/p>\n

War can never be quenched. Like Seneca<\/a> said, weapons know no boundaries or limits. When we draw our sword (become angry) it is hard to put the sword back into the sheath:<\/p>\n

Takeaway point: Conquer your anger<\/a><\/h3>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

I know for myself, anger is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.<\/p>\n

When I become angry, I lose all rationality. When I get angry, I want to repay my suffering onto the other person. The sad thing, I often get angry at my loved ones\u00e2\u20ac\u201d like Cindy, and hope to inflict pain upon her.<\/p>\n

Our anger is like the wrath of war. Once we enter battle, and draw our sword; it is hard to put the sword back into the sheath.<\/p>\n

So in terms of anger, once we say something evil, we can never take it back. Saying hateful things to others\u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is like staining your sword with blood.<\/p>\n

Think of anger like a sword\u00e2\u20ac\u201d would you draw blood from your loved ones?<\/p>\n

Learn how to Conquer Anger<\/a> .<\/p>\n

5. Never be forced to do anything<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

Why is it that we do so much shit in life that we don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to do? The problem is that we are still afraid of being negatively judged, of being ostracized by society, and ultimately\u00e2\u20ac\u201d we fear death<\/a> :<\/p>\n

> \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcWho can be forced has not learned how to die\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 – Seneca<\/p>\n

Think about it. We are all ultimately afraid of either pain or death. Death is the biggest fear we all have.<\/p>\n

Takeaway point: Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fear death<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t fear death\u00e2\u20ac\u201d you will live life to the fullest.<\/p>\n

In terms of photography, photograph each day like it were your last<\/a> — or like it were the last day of your loved ones.<\/p>\n

6. Kill\u00c2\u00a0the Hydra<\/h2>\n
\"Heracles
Hercules killing the Hydra with a club and fire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The hydra was a mystical creature, when you cut off one of its necks, two grows back in its place.<\/p>\n

The Hydra is like a metaphor for our lust for more. More money, more cars, more clothes, more fame, more power.<\/p>\n

Once we think we obtain what we want, our Hydra necks will continue to grow.<\/p>\n

Takeaway point: Cauterize the stumps of the Hydra<\/h3>\n
\"Gustave
Gustave Moreau’s 19th-century depiction of the Hydra<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The only way to conquer this insatiable lust for more\u00e2\u20ac\u201d we need to burn off the stumps of the necks of the Hydra. This is what Hercules did to prevent the re-growth of the necks of Hydra.<\/p>\n

We need to put a limit to our desires. Once you own things which are 80% \u00e2\u20ac\u02dcgood enough\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 in your life\u00e2\u20ac\u201d be satisfied. And use the rest of your time, energy, and effort to helping others, to [creating more art](http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/art), and finding more beauty in the world.<\/p>\n

7. Phoenix<\/h2>\n

\"Phoenix-Fabelwesen.jpg\"<\/p>\n

The phoenix is a mystical creature (a bird), that when it dies, it burns into ashes. But it rises every time from the ashes.<\/p>\n

I like the analogy of the Phoenix. It is like when something really shitty happens in our life, we are reborn with more vigor, energy, and enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

Takeaway point: Rebirth from your ashes<\/h3>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

So when you lose a loved one, when you go bankrupt, when you gain an illness\u00e2\u20ac\u201d or anything else horrible happens in your life, think to yourself:<\/p>\n

> How can I be like the Phoenix\u00c2\u00a0and be reborn from my ashes\u00e2\u20ac\u201d with more power and vigor?<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

\"IMG_1428-173-trix1600-sea-water\"<\/p>\n

I have been studying a lot of the Fables of Aesop<\/a> , and reading the tragedies of Seneca<\/a> . I learn a lot of life and moral lessons from these mythological stories.<\/p>\n

As long as we live, let us learn how to live a meaningful, purposeful, and loving life.<\/p>\n

Always,
\nEric<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Learn more Philosophy<\/h2>\n

\"eric<\/p>\n

Find more direction in life:<\/p>\n

Personal Philosophy\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00bb<\/a><\/h2>\n