Revisiting the Herculean Myth:

Lessons for a Life of Strength and Purpose

I want to return to the myth of Hercules, not least because this website is named after him. But also, because that myth provides so many opportunities for interpretation, self-reflection and social commentary. ,When I thin of Hercules, I don’t only see a picture a perfect hero as a marble statue. I picture someone who messed up, got knocked down, and still found a way to get back up stronger. That’s the part of the story I can relate to—and I suspect you do too.

There’s one thing in the myth I’ve always wrestled with. My favourite animal is the lion—always has been. I admire their strength, poise, and quiet authority. So when I read that Hercules’ very first labor was to kill the Nemean Lion, a part of me resists the story. If I’m honest, in my mind I tend to skip that one entirely. It’s easier to think about killing hydras than lions.

The king of the beasts: Hercule's fought and killed the Nemean Lion; it's skin was impenetrable and it had razor sharp claws and teeth.

But over time I realised the lion is more than just an animal in the tale—it’s the symbol of the toughest challenge, the one you can’t avoid. You might prefer to jump straight to the hydras, the stables, the boars—anything but the lion—but life has a way of bringing your lion to your doorstep. And when it does, you either face it or turn away.

Hercules’ Twelve Labours weren’t just trials of strength. They were tests of will, endurance, and service. He didn’t get to pick his challenges. He had little choice in the matter and when he had done ten labours as first agreed, he was forced to do two more. Life can be very unfair.

Our Own Modern Labours

I’ve had my own “lions” to wrestle—times when quitting would have been easy, when the weight felt too heavy. You’ve been there too. Maybe your labours look like:

• Breaking free from a cycle that’s been holding you down.

• Showing up to train when your body says “stay in bed.”

• Having the hard conversation instead of avoiding it.

• Building something worthwhile even when no one else believes in it yet.

  

  
  

The truth is, life is one long series of labours. You can’t skip them. But you can decide how you meet them.

Why the Hard Road Matters

There’s a part of the Hercules myth I love. He’s approached by two women—one promises him a life of ease and comfort, the other offers a life of hardship and honour. Hercules chooses the hard road.

That choice says everything about life and the choices we make. Do I push for one more rep or stop early? Do I speak my mind even when it’s uncomfortable? Do I take responsibility when things go wrong? Most of the time, choosing the hard road doesn’t feel glamorous—it feels inconvenient, uncomfortable, and exhausting. But that’s where the growth happens.

Living the Herculean Way

For me, living the Herculean Way isn’t about perfection—it’s about persistence. Training the body and the mind. And carrying yourself in a way that would make Hercules nod in respect.

We may not face monsters in the literal sense, but we all face them in our own way. And when we meet them with courage, grit, and integrity, we’re walking the same road Hercules in this myth that has resonated through the ages.

Your Labor This Week

This week, I want you to name your labour.What’s the one challenge you’ve been avoiding—the “lion” you haven’t faced, the “boulder” you’ve been circling instead of lifting? It may have to do with exercise or diet. Or, it might be a hard and uncomfortable conversation or making a decision that will change the course of your life. Whatever it might be call it out. Write it down. Then commit to one small, decisive action toward overcoming it. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It just has to move you forward.

Because when you take that first step, you’re not just tackling a problem—you’re stepping onto the hard road. And that’s where the Herculean Way begins.