If you think back to when you were in school, you were likely taught a lesson on Greek mythology. Whether Greek gods fascinated you or you forgot the stories you were told, these myths continue to be passed down and hold a lot of advice.
So, what do the ancient Greeks have to teach us? Keep reading for five life lessons we can learn from Greek myths.
Control Your Anger
Hercules is a well-known figure in ancient Greek mythology. He was strong and full of courage, but did you know his anger often got the best of him?
Hercules had a horrible anger streak, and he was easy to rile up and manipulate. His anger would make him violent, and he suffered because of the mistakes this anger caused.
The lesson here is to not let your emotions control you, as they can cause irreversible actions.
Appearances Aren’t Everything
Can you think of someone who’s a narcissist? This word actually stems from the Greek myth of Narcissus.
Narcissus was obsessed with his own reflection and ended up falling in love with his own appearance. With no way to feel love in return, Narcissus drove himself crazy and ended up committing suicide.
So what can we learn from this? Looks aren’t nearly as important as someone’s mind and the love they offer.
Choose Simplicity Over Lust for Wealth
In Greek mythology, King Midas received one wish from the god Dionysus. After wishing for everything he touched to become gold, King Midas quickly realized this was no desirable trick. Food, drink, and even his own daughter solidified into gold before him.
Instead of always chasing after more money and power, look around you and appreciate what you have. If you have food, shelter, and family, you’re already rich.
Everyone Has Weaknesses
We all have weaknesses, and the Greek gods did too. Even Beelzebub, who many refer to as Satan, had weak spots.
Achilles is a great example of how no one is perfect. While Achilles had been dipped in the River Styx when he was a child which made him invincible in battle, he had one weak spot that the river never touched: his heel.
No matter how strong someone seems, they have weaknesses too, just like the rest of us.
Listen to Your Elders
Daedalus, the father of Icarus, built Icarus a pair of wings. When the two of them became trapped, Daedalus told Icarus to use the wings to fly out, but he warned him not to fly too close to the sun or his wings would melt.
Icarus didn’t heed his father’s warning and flew too close, and he ended up falling to his death.
The lesson here? Listen to your elders, as they have invaluable experience and knowledge to share with you.
Benefit from the Advice of the Ancient Greeks
These are just a handful of the lessons we can learn from ancient Greeks. By reading and listening to Greek mythology, you can use this insight to make your life and relationships even better.
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