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Two of the oldest literary works, Iliad and Odyssey, were written in the seventh century B.C. by Homer, a Greek poet. Now, a film adaptation of Homer’s epic tale, The Odyssey, is set to be released in summer 2026. The story focuses on Odysseus, the Greek King of Ithaka, and his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War. Along the way, Odysseus faced many challenges, such as lotus narcotic plants (which caused his shipmates to lose any desire for action), the one-eyed giant Cyclops, Sirens, Calypso, and Circe, who all impeded his return to his homeland, the place where he belonged.
It is Homer whom we must thank for giving us the popular word “odyssey” and its deeper meaning, which is now associated with the idea of traveling along life’s uncharted path. And like Odysseus, I view life as an odyssey into the unexpected, as well as an adventure to be embraced and experienced to the fullest. Importantly, our odysseys help us answer the existential question, “How do I live a more meaningful life?”
Facing Our Challenges
In The Odyssey, Odysseus faced 12 challenges. Many of us have faced at least 12 challenges in our own lives, times when we have been called upon to overcome obstacles and difficulties. Challenges test us; we can either retreat in fear or we can rise up. It is during these times in life when we have to find the courage to move through our fears.
As the philosopher Epictetus taught us, difficulties show us who we are. We can discover other sides of ourselves and gain a deeper sense of faith in ourselves. Many times, after the fact, we come to realize that challenges were placed in front of us so that we could discover something very important and meaningful about ourselves and our world.
When our minds are focused on something greater than ourselves, on a goal that is truly meaningful, we are often able to summon the courage to move forward. There are also many ways we can add deep and meaningful value to the lives of others and, in doing so, add deep value and meaning to our own lives. We have to look for, and be open to, opportunities to serve and to make a positive, meaningful difference in the life of the next person we encounter—a “pay it forward” way of living.
Core Essence
The human quest for meaning can be viewed as a personal odyssey, and much like Odysseus’ return to Ithaka, the return to our core essence is the final destination. In other words, our true nature has always been there, and through our different experiences, it reveals itself slowly and deliberately as we evolve.
We are all born with our unique, core essence, but the choices we make in life can either serve to conceal or reveal this essence. When we wear “masks,” pretending to live someone else’s life or trying to keep up with others, we lose sense of our true selves, and, tragically, we disconnect from that part of ourselves that makes us unique. In turn, this affects, in negative ways, our ability to be comfortable with who we are and to connect meaningfully with others.
When we ask more questions and examine our lives like Socrates encouraged us to do, we begin to gain more clarity about our place in the world and what unique traits and talents we can share with the world. Asking questions helps us to determine if we need to let go of certain beliefs or situations that no longer work for us. As we explore who we are, we can go beyond the limits of who we are allowing ourselves to be and expand into our fuller selves. This helps us live in harmony with ourselves and others and ultimately to live with more meaning.
When we focus on the difficulties of life and on what’s wrong or what’s missing, we lose power and energy. We get stuck, like Odysseus did, in a swirling whirlpool, repeating the same motions and not moving forward. When we procrastinate, waiting for the situation to be “right,” standing on the sidelines of life, we lose valuable time and experiences.
As we begin to understand what is meaningful—what really matters to us—we begin to transform and enter the process of becoming who we are really meant to be. When we understand and act from our own Core of Meaning, we become more engaged and resilient, more energetic and healthy, more creative and productive.
As Homer taught us in the Odyssey, everyone’s journey is unique. With perseverance and courage, we can become more fully ourselves and truly know that our lives are meaningful, to ourselves and to others.
