Hercules at the Crossroads
Hercules at the Crossroads
A choice between virtue and vice
"The world will ask you who you are, and if you don't know, the world will tell you."
- Carl Jung
Hercules at the Crossroads
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life
In life, we all encounter various crossroads that require us to make difficult decisions. A well-known ancient Greek parable that tells this tale is Hercules at the Crossroads. Hercules is famous for his unmatched strength, but this story comes from when he was a young man, just entering adulthood.
Legend has it that Hercules killed his overly critical music teacher with a single blow, leaving him confused and conflicted. Seeking solitude to reflect on what just happened, he wandered into a nearby forest where he was surprised to find two beautiful women. The women represented the opposing forces of Virtue and Vice, and both of them vied for Hercules' attention and favor.
The woman who was dressed in flashy, sensuous clothing and sparkled with jewelry was Vice. "Choose me, and your life shall be one of never-ending pleasure, with no need for mental or physical exertion," she said.
The other woman, dressed in simple, pure white, was Virtue. "Choose me, and you will receive the admiration of your fellow countrymen. However, I cannot promise you a life without labor, as no one can harvest where they have not sown," she said.
Hercules found himself at a crossroads, faced with a decision that would forever impact his future. He had to decide between the easy path of vice and indulgence or a more challenging road of virtue and hard work, eventually leading to noble deeds.
Despite the tempting promises of Vice, Hercules chose the path of honor, hard work, and noble deeds. He realized that life is a combination of sweet and bitter experiences, and you must be willing to face hardships to achieve success and significance.
The story of Hercules at the Crossroads serves as a lesson that the choices we make in life will shape our future. It teaches us that true significance comes through hard work, perseverance, and doing good work, not through selfish motivations and short-lived pleasure.
"The path of least resistance leads to crooked rivers and crooked people."
- Henry David Thoreau
Connecting this quote to the story. Thoreau's quote reinforces that taking the easy way out may seem attractive in the short term, but it can ultimately lead to a crooked, morally compromised life. If Hercules had chosen the path of Vice, he may have enjoyed temporary pleasure, but he would have lost the opportunity to achieve true greatness through hard work and virtuous deeds.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: Anyone can tell someone what not to do. Great leaders teach by showing others what to do.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
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©Troy Urdahl, 2023