Achilles Heal

Achilles Heal

November 2022

Achilles ‘Heal’ 

By Megha Bajaj

Instead of taking undue advantage of a person’s weak point,  let’s ensure that we nurture our relationship with them and  avoid causing any hurt, says Megha Bajaj 

In Greek mythology, when  Achilles was an infant, it was  foretold that he would perish  at a young age. To prevent this  from happening, his mother,  Thetis, took him to the river  Styx, which was supposed to  offer powers of invulnerability.  She dipped his entire body in  the sacred waters, but since she  held him by the heel, it did not  receive the powers. Achilles grew  up to be a great warrior and  survived many battles. However,  finally, it was when he took a  poisoned arrow to his heel that  he succumbed. The story gained  popularity to show that no matter  how brave or unconquerable a  warrior is, they always have some  weakness, which, if found, can be  used to defeat them.” 

Inner noise. We all know of it. It  This has great significance in all  relationships, but I am going to use  the context of marriage to expand  this. If you have been married for  even a few months now, or for long  years, you already know that your  partner has their own Achilles  heel. Humans that we are, we  subconsciously keep picking at  each other’s weaknesses. As we  live with someone, we find out  what makes them happy and what  makes them sad, and we learn  ways to find their Achilles heel. things. The truth is, the mind is  never quiet. 

Unfortunately, most people use this Achilles heel in relationships  to hurt rather than to protect  or heal them. For instance, the  husband knows that for his wife,  her mother is her Achilles heel.  By default, in a fight, he will bring  her up and say something which  affects his wife. He believes he will  gain the upper hand by hurting  her where it matters the most: her  Achilles heel. 

If the wife knows that the  husband’s alma mater means a lot  to him, she may use that against  him in certain situations through  remarks such as “Oh, so is this  what they taught you at XYZ?”  She knows other things may not  affect him, but a word against his  precious institution, and he will  be done in.  

Manipulating weaknesses is  the most common thing that  corporates do and is the way  many sportsmen win their medals.  Not only do they work on their  strengths, but they also use others’  weaknesses against them to get  where they must.  

And yet, relationships are no  competition to be won. It’s not  about one-upping, as much as it  is about tangoing along together.  Sometimes, we forget that in  winning a point or feeling good  for that moment, we end up  losing something much more  important: the love, trust, or peace  of the other. What’s the point of  

winning something at the cost  of losing something much more  important? Yes, throwing an insult  and knowing you caught the other  off guard may win you that one  argument, but it’s not setting the  right tone for your relationship in  the longer run.  

Instead, if you really want to build  your marriage (or any relationship)  and create a secure environment  for one another, you need to know  your partner’s Achilles heel and  help them preserve it. Imagine  knowing that attacking their  weak point will hurt them and  yet ensuring that you do nothing  to cause it! In fact, even if the  other is using your Achilles heel,  if you hold on to your dignity and  simply don’t give in, it leads to  growing love, trust, and respect  in the marriage. Chances are that  seeing the way you are carrying  yourself and preserving the other’s  weakness, the other will want to do  the same for you. 

An Achilles heel can be used to  win. Let’s use it to win love! 

An award-winning author, film script writer and poet, Megha  is an eternal seeker at heart.  She also empowers people to write and get published through  her online writing workshop.  

You can read more on www. WonderofWords.org. 

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