What does Cutting Gordian Knot mean?
Good morning, folks! I am Jin with Morning Mindfulness Podcast. Hope life is treating you well in your corner of the World. Let’s breathe and smile.

A Legend About Cutting Gordian Knot

Over 2 thousand years ago, there was a city called Gordium. There was a shrine in the city, and one of the sacred attractions in it was a beautifully designed very, very complicated Turkish knot. Over the years many visitors tried to loosen the knot, but they were not successful. The knot was tied in such a way that nobody could even see the ends of the rope.

However, the puzzle was eventually solved. A man by the name Alexander the Great took his sward and cut through the knot. I am not going to repeat the tale, you can easily find it online as a Gordian Knot legend. And the expression “Cutting Gordian Knot” is now one of the metaphors used as a reminder about how to solve complicated life and business situations.

I often see people who are so fixated on finding the ends of the rope and untying the knot. I’ve done it too. While this may be a good exercise, I think the knot can be solved easier by thinking outside of the box, or using the legend’s terminology, by cutting the knot.

Think about this, my friend. You may be standing in front of the knot which is blocking your way. And you may be puzzled how in the World you can solve it. But the knot itself is not your goal. Is there any other, easier way to get what you want? Hope this makes sense.

Now let’s breathe and smile. Thanks for stopping by. I will talk to you next time.

PEACE!
Jin

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