Warmest greetings and welcome to Mêtis Money Matters! Mêtis, the combination of cunning and wisdom, is dedicated to family money matters. In this blog, we make a dedicated effort to providing family finance concepts in clear and simple terms, making it something we can all learn from. Additionally, we place an emphasis on financial literacy, in growing as we navigate life’s financial journey.
What is Mêtis?
The ancient Greeks often faced superior forces and impossible odds. Athenian legends are born from the heroics and epic conquests of these times. When they were faced with destruction, they were often left to their own relying mêtis not only to survive but even to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Mêtis Meaning
In my view, mêtis is a combination of cunning, strategy, innovation, grit, training, and determination. My first encounter with Mêtis was in reading Homer’s Iliad. I loved the strategy, cunning, and wit on the ever-changing field of battle.
Mêtis Greek Mythology
The Greeks used mêtis often, and one of my favorite examples is the comparison of the Iliad and the Odyssey. Looking at Homer’s famous poems, we see Odysseus, the hero of the Iliad, using mêtis to survive his journey. Observe the difference in the Odyssey, with Achilles who relies instead upon martial prowess on the field of battle.
Furthermore, we can also see this concept in Athenian leadership. They understood where to invest heavily, to cultivate and grow their culture, and they knew when to focus on the military. Broadly speaking, the Greeks understood the importance of philosophy and logic while at the same time also training impressive naval forces and armies.
Applying Mêtis today, in Family Money Matters
In my opinion, this concept of mêtis captures all these cunning, strategic attributes. It is applicable today as well!
The theme of this blog is applying Mêtis in personal and family finances. We all face challenges about money; it is part of life, and it can be quite intimidating! Additionally, as I’m sure we all have experienced, the financial fight is rarely a “fair” fight. Life doesn’t pull punches.
We get to chose to accept defeat, merely survive, or thrive! This blog is dedicated to helping you figure out your personal finances, and successfully manage your money through the difficulties that life throws at you. It is rooted in the cultivation of financial literacy for you and your family. We want to help equip you so that you can apply mêtis to your financial encounters.
Remember, mêtis must be honed, practiced, and grown, and it must be reinforced with hands-on experience. Most importantly, it requires patience and dedication to master. It is worth the effort! Think of your financial story as the journey of a lifetime. Along the way, we are going to help you with that journey. Keep in mind, some parts of the journey are going to be quick and easy. Other parts will be more difficult. Most importantly, keep going, and apply mêtis to all your money matters!