“I’ve done some reading on Sisyphus (arguably not enough!) and found the most intriguing ideas presented by Albert Camus. His intellect was far beyond what I could ever imagine, but I like some of his thoughts. Some interpret his thought that having awareness of the ‘absurdity’ of life and the daily struggle gives Sisyphus the strength to continue. As the boulder rolls back to the foot of the mountain, Sisyphus reflects that it is his stone and his destiny….thus he is aware. Again, too deep for me, but I have tried to understand. The last couple of lines resonate: ‘The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart.’
My brother had plenty of struggles in his life, and he had a mantra about always pushing the boulder. He said you could pick the hill and the boulder, but you just have to keep pushing it. This became even more true when he was diagnosed with cancer. He endured five years of infusions and awful treatments, but he just kept pushing. So, I try to do the same while taking satisfaction in completing the task to the best of my ability…even if it sometimes seems mundane. So many things we do are repetitive, but we help people along the way.”
Mark Tillman
University Dean
The story of Sisyphus is a fascinating tale from Greek mythology. Sisyphus was the cunning king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth). Known for his craftiness and deceit, he managed to cheat death twice, which greatly angered Zeus.
Sisyphus was condemned to an eternal task in the underworld as punishment for his trickery. He was forced to roll a massive boulder up a hill, only for it to roll back down every time it neared the top. This endless cycle of futile labor became a metaphor for laborious and pointless tasks, often called "Sisyphean." The myth of Sisyphus has also inspired philosophical discussions, most notably by Albert Camus, who used it to illustrate the absurdity of human existence.
Tillman discusses how he applies the tale of Sisyphus. Although we often have mundane tasks, we should attempt to take pleasure in them. There’s something satisfying about getting things done.
I’ve approached the application of Sisyphus’s tale slightly differently. I imagine that boulder slowly eroding the path to the top every time, day after day. I also imagine the boulder degrading ever so slowly over time from the wear. What happens? The boulder becomes smaller and the path easier. When we attempt new and challenging things, the path is steep and the boulder large. But repeated efforts will make things easier over time. Think of the many skills you learn as an athlete or coach. Were they not awkward and frustrating when you first began? Remember that when teaching your athletes new skills. Give them hope that improvement will come.
Ask Yourself:
What "boulders" am I currently pushing, and how can I reframe them as meaningful rather than just repetitive?
Have I helped my athletes see that persistence, especially in the mundane or difficult, is part of their growth, not separate from it?
In what ways have I chosen my own hill and boulder, and how does that choice reflect my values and purpose as a coach?
Excerpt taken from Reflections on the Coaching Life Volume 2.