The story of the two wolves has, in a short way, been shared for years on Internet.
Here we like to share the original story as passed through for generations within the Native tribes of America.
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 of you – and inside of 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, “If you feed them right, they both win.
You see, if I only choose to feed the good wolf, the evil one will be hiding around every corner waiting for me to become distracted or weak and jump to get the attention he craves. He will always be angry and always fighting the good wolf.
But if I acknowledge him, he is happy and the good wolf is happy and we all win.
For the evil wolf has many qualities: tenacity, courage, fearlessness, strong will and great strategic thinking that I have need of at times and that the good wolf lacks.
But the good wolf has compassion, caring, strength and the ability to recognize what is in the best interest of all.
You see son, they both need the other at his side.
To feed only one would starve the other and they will soon become uncontrollable.
To feed and care for both means they will serve you well and do nothing that is not a part of something greater, something good, something of life.
Feed them both and there will be no more internal struggle for your attention, and there is no battle inside.
You can listen to the voices of deeper knowing that will guide you in choosing what is right in every circumstance.
Peace, my son, is the Cherokee mission in life.
A man or woman who has peace inside has everything.
A man or woman who is pulled apart by the war inside him or her has nothing.
How you choose to interact with the opposing forces within you will determine your life.
Starve one or the other or guide them both.”
Source: Feather Eyes.com
Read more stories by clicking on the titles below.
Storytelling – The Starfish – Make a Difference
An Ancient Gift – Who are we?
The Father and his Sons– a Small Gift
The Chopsticks– Heaven or Hell
The Story of the Donkey and the Tigre – Intelligence
The Fish in the Bowl – Beliefs
The Search – How to…???
The Sourdough Parable – Care & Nurture
An Old Cherokee told his son – Peace Inside