The Ulysses Method for Creating Synthetic Willpower

In that early chapter about doubts, one of the arguments against a hundredfold decrease in suffering had to do with human nature:  Because people are self-centered or weak, there will always be wars, suffering, waste, and so forth. My main counter-argument was that people can undergo an educational transformation that will cause them to behave differently. In my view, superprograms can be the main vehicle of educational transformation. This upgrade is about a tool or method that can help you in many situations when you are vulnerable to temptations. In my life, I have found it extremely valuable.

Temptation is a word sometimes associated with sin. Once again, I am not going venture into the spiritual domain, but I can certainly agree that there are times where we feel that we have a decision to make and at the same time don’t feel strong enough to choose the right, healthy or virtuous alternative. People often decide that they are weak or sinful, then, when the consistently chose the lesser alternative. 

How you chose to think about it is your decision and not mine. But I believe that it’s very important to the success of chain reaction of empowerment for people to have a method that more often causes them to choose the healthier alternative, or the alternative that benefits more people. That is why I am sharing what I call the Ulysses Method. The method is based on The Odyssey of Homer, a book over 2,500 years old.

At one point in his sea journey, Ulysses and his crew faced what seemed to be an impossible challenge. He had to sail his ship through a narrow strait. On one side, on a cliff were the Sirens whose seductive songs would lure sailors to their doom. On the other side was a whirlpool. If someone covered their ears to avoid the Sirens, they wouldn’t hear the whirlpool and would be pulled under. So there seemed no solution.

But Ulysses did have a solution the problem: He had himself tied to the ship’s mast, so he could hear the whirlpool, but not be seduced by the Sirens into throwing himself overboard. Meanwhile, his crew’s ears were sealed with beeswax so they couldn’t hear the Sirens. They were able to row without problems, and even hold back Ulysses when he strained to break free of the ropes.

Ulysses’ solution can be applied in any situation in which we foresee temptation or a lack of willpower. We often can foresee times of temptation, whether it is the TV, food in the refrigerator, or worse temptations. By arranging the situation ahead of time, we have the equivalent of willpower. It may be through emptying the fridge, or through having someone to support us when we know we will be tempted or unmotivated.[1] 

Ulysses’ method could be called a way to create “synthetic willpower.” He foresaw a time when he would be weak (when the Sirens were singing) and he prepared for his period of weakness in advance. A second lesson from the same episode is that you could see his crew tying him to the mast as a form of ongoing support. His crew kept him from throwing himself into the sea. A third lesson is compensating for one another’s weaknesses: Ulysses had the senses (hearing) to direct the course of the boat, but he lacked the self-discipline. His crew had the discipline (because their ears were stopped) but lacked the sensitivity.

This “Ulysses Method” is one way to be strong for the situations in which you know you’re likely to be weak. Then, good, supportive, ongoing relationships like those created by the Buddy system, the Goal and Growth Group and other support structures can gradually create real willpower.

Exercise:

1. What are major temptations?

2. What damage do they do?

3. What would be healthy substitutes?

4. How could you use the Ulysses Method to pre-arrange your moments of weakness so that you don’t give in, but use a healthy substitute or a less damaging one?