The Myth of Sisyphus
Sep 24 | Tony | No Comments |Ever had a day like this? A week? A month? A decade? This video form the 1970s does a masterful job of depicting the fate of Sisyphus. In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was a king who angered the gods and was sentenced to pushing a huge boulder uphill only to have it come back down and then being forced to repeat this task over and over for all eternity.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYBlAon683s&feature=related
The imagery is a powerful reminder that when we feel like all of our efforts are in vain or that we find ourselves right back where we started (again) that we are not alone. From the dawn of civilization, humankind has pondered its lot in life. What hope is there for those of us consigned to a life of seemingly fruitless struggle and endless turmoil? Have you had times when you have felt a bit like Sisyphus? What have you been pushing uphill? How long have you been pushing? Is your rock a physical one? An emotional one? A spiritual one? Are you fated to struggle with it your entire life? Does it get the best of you no matter what you do? Can you not escape it?
It is ordained that Sisyphus push uphill forever. What are his options in the face of this? What are your options in the face of what you are pushing uphill? At first blush, Sisyphus has no option. His fate is sealed. But upon closer inspection, there is yet a place for movement. Faced with the fact that there is no possibility of external change, Sisyphus’ only recourse is to explore his own internal landscape. It is only there that he (and perhaps we) will find that fundamental shift that allows for the work to be carried forward.
