Achilles Heel

The Rage of Achilles, by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Be content with your lot; one cannot be first in everything. - Aesop (620 BC-560 BC)

Everyone experiences it at some point in his or her lives, and to some degree or another. Almost everyone I know – whether they want to admit it or not – is susceptible to it. It is part of our sentient, human condition to feel it. In some people, it is latent, waiting for the right catalyst to bring forth such a feeling, whilst in others who are more attuned to their surroundings or reactive sort of person, the effects are immediate. The response in kind can be overt, neutral or underhanded, depending on the personality involved.

Yes, everyone has felt it, unless of course in Muslim-speak, you think you are infallible (or in Arabic – ma’sum) like our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

What is it, you ask? To different cultures and by different people, the name by which it is called varies. Personally, I call it the Achilles Heel syndrome, suitably borrowed from Greek mythology. Achilles was a great and proud Greek warrior whose downfall and death were merely attributed to a heel wound – an insignificant, laughable cause for a man so mighty. By analogy and figuratively speaking, it takes a small matter to bring a person down. To touch a person’s vulnerable spot(s).

You know what I mean - the negative, down-in-the-dumps feeling engendered upon observing, watching or even thinking that someone else is better off than you.

While the feeling is constant, the variables that brought it to the surface differ according to the individuals or circumstances in question.

For instance, in the academic realm, you are downhearted after finding out that someone else, purportedly smarter than you, is more favored by your peers or superiors. Or it can be a popularity contest at the office where the ladies swarm the ‘cool’, charming person whilst you watch, gritting teeth and all, from afar this ridiculous spectacle. Or you lost your bearing upon discovering a colleague who is more knowledgeable in your field of interest and consequently feel small when that person imparts his or her wisdom onto an impressed audience.

Feeling small and unworthy, you dolefully resort to immersing in self-pity over your misfortune. Left unchecked, you can further spiral into bottomless despair. Alternatively, you transmogrify into an insidious green-eyed monster with an evil scheme to bring down your alleged opponent. Else, you plan to put him or her in an isolated corner beyond the reach of any foreseeable help.

In truth however, I believe the propensity to catch the syndrome depends largely on our experience, upbringing, self-esteem and values. It is the resultant mixture of these ingredients that affects our perception of a reality.

Rationally-speaking, in this world you are bound to meet people – whom you PERCEIVE – smarter, prettier, richer, wittier, funnier, thinner, more religious, better looking, cooler, etc than you. It is all relative and subjective. One person’s stallion is another person’s donkey. So why bother being depressed or overly competitive vis-à-vis your station in life when it could be channeled to better, healthier outlets like self-improvement, building close relationship with loved ones (including God) or indulging in hobbies and other meaningful interests.

As such, before we let our Achilles Heel infiltrate our psyche, we better assess the root of such emotions and subsequently mull over the options to fix this character flaw. As the quote – more or less – goes, a person who harbors resentment towards another is likened to someone who takes poison in the hope that the other person will die.

In similar vein, when we sell ourselves short by benchmarking our life (achievements, material wealth, etc) to others, we will never achieve inner peace. I’m not saying we shouldn’t be ambitious or work towards a more comfortable lifestyle or look up to another individual as an idol cum mentor. The problem starts when we make impossible demands on ourselves or wallow in a pitiable state of mind, at the expense of our family or health (physical, mental, emotional) for that matter. Never settle at the two opposite ends of a pole; always remain near the middle of the spectrum.

As the New Year closing in on us, I too must discard any predisposed notion that has at times impaired my judgment and shaken my confidence. I know that only by getting rid of my hang-ups will I be at peace and contented with myself.

So folks, shake off your Achilles Heels for 2007 and enjoy your life to the fullest!