The Promethean v. the Epimethean

In Greek Mythology, Prometheus and Epimetheus were brothers. Zeus gifted Epimetheus with Pandora. Despite Prometheus warning Epimetheus not to accept the gift, Epimetheus did anyway. Opened Pandora’s Box. The rest is, as they say, history. (Or mythology?) Prometheus gave man fire. He suffered for it, but he was able to see the good in the future.

• Prometheus = forethinker.
• Epimetheus = afterthinker.

Promethean thinking looks at what’s to come. If I move my bishop here, then I am vulnerable here in the future. Epimethean thinking foregoes the future in favor of the now.  Ha! Look at this! An opening for a check — I’ll take it!

The Epimethean mind has to take over during training and eating. Be in the moment. Be present. Have one focus. Feel your body. Taste the food. Nothing else matters in those moments. But the overall planning and the grand scheme has to be Promethean because the body’s future decisions depend on the now.

• The Epimethean = I’m going to drop my food intake really really low. No energy coming in = bye bye body fat!
• The Promethean = Dropping energy low might be great now, but in the future (if prolonged) it will wreck me. Starvation mode like stuff. Cravings. Not sustainable.

• The Epimethean = Muscle break down? Oh no! Never! Prevent catabolism at all costs! Drink super extra mega protein shakes with loads of sugar!
• The Promethean = Muscle breakdown of a certain color now is an apparent catalyst for muscle building later.

• The Epimethean = I’ve fasted all morning! I can indulge a little now because I burned so much fat earlier in the day.
• The Promethean = When you lose fat, your body wants to undo the loss. It’ll refill the cells if the conditions are right. Fat loss isn’t permanent. 

• The Epimethean = I’m going to train assuming a perfect world for optimal performance! And oh so much gains. 
• The Promethean = I’m probably going to find myself in bad positions because I’m a trickster that’s flipping end over end and temporarily losing spatial-temporal-kinesthetic sense…so I better strengthen my ankle in vulnerable positions.

• The Epimethean = I’ve been sedentary for ten years, now I’m going to run a marathon and lift weights!
• The Promethean = Maybe I should spend six months and re-energize my body. Prepare myself for the stress. It won’t be fun. It’ll likely be mind-numbing. But Promethean thinking is all about taking a hit now to make a play in the future.

Forethought requires you go beyond the now and ask, “What impact does this have in the future?” Afterthought asks, “What’s better for me now?” There’s a time and place for both. The Epimethean is great for being present. Enjoying the now. But it leaves you vulnerable if you’re anticipating a future outcome of sorts. An opening for a check is great in chess…unless you’re being baited.

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I’m enjoying: visualizing tricking technique for ten minutes every day.

Photo: Theodoor Rombouts, picture by Paul Hermans via Wikimedia Commons.