The Lesson of the Two Wolves

The Lesson of the Two Wolves is a Native American story, often attributed to the Cherokee people, where an elder tells his grandson about an internal battle between two wolves within him:  When the boy asks which one will win his grandfather responds, “If you feed them right, they both will win.”  He continues, “You see, if I only choose to feed the White Wolf, the Black One will be hiding around every corner waiting for an opportunity where I’m distracted or weak and jump to get the attention he craves.  You see, the Black Wolf may have some not-so-nice characteristics, but they're sometimes useful and very needed in certain situations.  The Black Wolf never dies, because he is a part of me for as long as I'm alive.  He is the Shadow character that has evolved to keep me safe for better or worse, whenever possible harm comes for us throughout life.  He knows dark things that may protect me that the White Wolf is oblivious to.

Sometimes I may do things that I'm not proud of by acting out perhaps with poor character qualities that my Black Wolf has done at the expense of me being kept alive.  That's a time when the Black Wolf was fed perhaps a bit too much.  However, If he is to be denied completely as if to be starved out of existence, he will always be angry and always fighting the White Wolf.  But, if I acknowledge him and feed him just enough to keep him satiated but not too much so that he'll take over wresting control from the White Wolf, he is happy and White Wolf is happy and we all win! 

For the Black Wolf has many qualities: tenacity, courage, fearlessness, strong will, and great strategic thinking that I have need of at times and that the White Wolf lacks.  But the White Wolf has compassion, caring, strength and the ability to recognize what is in the best interest of all.  You see, Grandson, the White Wolf needs the Black Wolf at his side, just as the Black Wolf needs the White Wolf.  To feed one and starve the other causes many problems and they soon will become uncontrollable.  There's so much more than just a "good-guy-bad-guy" struggle happening here.  It's more about cultivating a healthy balance within one's self.  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 for life! 

Feed them both well and there will be no more internal struggles for your attention and there will be no more battle inside.  Then you can listen to the voice of deeper knowing that will guide you in choosing what is right in every circumstance.  Peace, my grandson, 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 war inside of themselves 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!”