I have long read the words of the Norse Sagas and Edda's around the fire in the long hall whilst sipping mead from a horn-cup and seem always to find relevant meaning so thought I'd share some with you; The quote and my interpretation. Naturally my interpretation or understanding may vary to your own, as it should be, so feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments section below if you like.
I don't actually have a Viking long hall, but I have a fire and mead so I'm mostly there. Either way, the reading is valuable.
To take up great resolutions, and then to lay them aside, only ends in dishonor. - Óláfs saga Tryggvasonar
This could read, to begin a task only to decide after commencing it is too difficult or challenging could mean one is left looking ineffective, lazy and lacking in drive, attitude or effort.
Taking on more than one can practicably handle or cope with is fraught with danger and offers the potential for capitulation, the quit-ethos - Something that soon becomes a habit in my understanding and experience.
Is it greed that causes people to take on more than they can effectively facilitate, the fear of missing out or a perfectionist nature? Conversely, is it lack of discipline and ownership, the right attitude and mindset that inspires a person to quit? A question each person must answer for themselves I think.
Being realistic in one's endeavours is as important as goal-setting and having plans in place to attain them; An end-date for them to occur by and check-measures along the way to ensure one is on track and moving forward towards attaining the goal. Biting off more than one can chew brings rise to burn-out, loss of interest and, if it is indeed unachievable, will only demotivate when the inevitable failure happens.
I do not believe in the phrase, you can do anything you set your mind to. It's a generalisation and in reality is simply not true. It's best to set attainable goals, make them somewhat difficult for sure, but always achievable.
I think possibly that could be the relevance of the ends in dishonour part of the quote; Maybe it's not dishonour in other people's eyes but in oneself through failure to attain a completely unattainable goal; Dishonour could be supplanted by demotivation.
Undertaking great resolutions, setting massive goals, has a place I think, but inside of an ultimate goal is smaller ones that must be attained to make the larger goal possible...Smaller mini-goals are more achievable and upon their success comes a feeling of achievement, satisfaction and the impetus to push forward to the next, and then ultimate, goal.
That's what I see in this quote today anyway. How about you?
Here's some background on the Norse Edda's and Sagas including what they actually are. They were not written originally, the words I read have since been recorded of course though, and thankfully so.
An Edda is a collection of poems based around Norse legends held within two Icelandic books of the 13th-century called the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda. Much of the understanding around Scandinavian mythology derives from them.
A saga is a story focused on Norse, Icelandic and Viking history, folklore and heroic achievement - Mostly recorded around the 12th and 13th century.
It's interesting to note that Vikings were much more than violent raiders who revelled in battle and conquest, that they had a culture rich in story-telling and poetry; The Viking poet was one of the most respected among their society and in the mead-halls throughout the Viking world they could be found retelling stories of conquest, the gods, heroes, lovers and history in general. Sagas and Edda's were also passed from father to son and mother to daughter - The collective history of the Viking people passed by word of mouth, not written and recorded.
They had runes and glyphs however these were reserved for ceremonial purposes - They didn't write their history, they told it through the Edda's and Sagas.
Without those two elements they are just words. Quotes are the wisdom in words of those who came before us and a wise person will seek that wisdom, determine how it may relate to them and embrace it.
Feel free to interpret the quote above, to apply it to yourself, and let me know what you think in the comments below; I'm interested to know what you see and feel.
Skol.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind
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