Who is your wolf ?

The Fight of Two Wolves Within You, Dean Yeong

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life:

“A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.

”It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil–he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you–and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

This story is about how do you want to live your life, because it is known that bad feelings do you harm and eventually will shortage your lifespan. Does it make sense to feel anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, false pride, superiority? Also ego cannot definitely be in your favour, you may lose big opportunities in life and you can damage the relations with the one you care about.

In the realm of our consciousness, a fierce battle rages on. This battle is not fought with physical weapons or brute force, but with the intangible elements that shape our lives: emotions, thoughts, and attitudes. In fact, you may take care of your body, eat healthy food, go to the gym and spa, but if you do not pay attention to your emotional part, this is a big mistake that influences your general health. Just as the old Cherokee shared with his grandson, we all harbor two wolves within us—the wolf of darkness and the wolf of light. The outcome of this internal struggle depends on which wolf we choose to feed, and it profoundly impacts the quality of our lives.

The Power of Positive Emotions:

On the other side of the internal battle, the wolf of goodness awaits our attention. Joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility—these emotions offer us liberation from the shackles of negativity. When we feed the wolf of goodness, we unlock our potential for growth and personal transformation. Joy expands our capacity for gratitude, while peace allows us to find solace amidst chaos. Love and empathy enable us to build meaningful connections, and hope propels us forward in times of adversity. These positive emotions serve as beacons of light, guiding us towards a life imbued with purpose and fulfillment.

Choosing Our Path:

The Cherokee elder's wisdom offers profound insights into our ability to shape our lives through conscious choices. It reminds us that we have to decide which emotions and attitudes to nurture. While we may not have control over the circumstances we encounter, we can choose how we respond to them. We can choose to feed the wolf of darkness or the wolf of light, and this choice determines the trajectory of our lives.

We can understand that it is up to us the decision of cultivating the positive tittude, not only to know the theory bu also to apply it. In our daily activities maybe it is an idea to observe ourselves what exactly we think, speak and what are our actions.

Awareness: The first step in nurturing positive emotions is to cultivate self-awareness. Recognize the presence of negative emotions when they arise, and consciously choose to disengage from them. Allow yourself to pause, reflect, and redirect your focus towards positive emotions.

Mindfulness: Practice being present in the moment and observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment. Mindfulness helps create a space where you can consciously choose to let go of negativity and embrace positive emotions.

Gratitude: Cultivating a sense of gratitude opens the door to joy and contentment. Take time each day to reflect on the things you are grateful for, no matter how small. This practice helps shift your focus from scarcity to abundance.

Compassion and Empathy: Foster kindness and empathy towards yourself and others. Engage in acts of service and seek to understand the perspectives and experiences of those around you. By extending compassion, you foster an environment conducive to positive emotions.

Self-reflection and Growth: Embrace humility and a growth mindset. Understand that everyone makes mistakes, but it is through self-reflection and learning that we grow. Celebrate your achievements while remaining open to personal development.

Embracing the Good Wolf

Feeding the wolf of goodness does not imply suppressing or denying negative emotions entirely. It is about acknowledging their presence and consciously choosing to respond to them in a manner that aligns with our values and long-term well-being. By nurturing positive emotions, we create a virtuous cycle, whereby joy begets more joy, love begets more love, and peace begets more peace.

The allegory of the two wolves within us reminds us that we possess the power to shape our lives through our thoughts, emotions, and attitudes. By consciously choosing to feed the wolf of goodness—nurturing joy, peace, love, and compassion—we can transcend the limitations imposed by negative emotions. As we cultivate positive emotions and embrace the path of personal growth, we pave the way for a life filled with meaning, fulfillment, and lasting happiness. So, let us strive to feed the wolf that brings light into our lives and bask in the radiance of our own inner goodness.

I wish you a happy, healthy and meaningfull life!