Two Wolves - A Cherokee Parable
An old Cherokee chief was 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, self-doubt, and ego.
"The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
"This 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 chief simply replied,
"The one you feed."
Somedays I still feel a twinge of self-doubt and ego. REVELATION? It shouldn't be, we are fully human and those "character defects" are very much a part of our humanness. The thing is you have to choose which wolf to feed!
I love this old Cherokee Paralbe. It's short and simple, I get it! Today I began to dance with the "bad wolf"...I'd already prayed and meditated, I didn't expect my ego to try and take over. As I began this dance, I tripped...not a stumble someone on the outside looking in could notice, but inside there was an awakening. I heard this parable in my God mind - "which one are you going to feed today?" WOW..."thanks Universe for a heads up - I CHOOSE to feed the good one.
Easier said, than done. Life began to take its own turns today. I sat outside out in the country in 100 degree heat. There was so much bug spray on me that the steam rising up off my skin was baking the insecticide sending intoxicating fumes into my brain!! Flushed, parched and tired - but there were others with me, who were having a pleasant adventure. And I remembered the parable - I sat down and remembered to be mindful. In the first moment all I could manage was to tell myself "head and feet in same place", breath in and out. As my mind began to slow its frantic pace I saw the beauty in a day. Cows lowing nearby, children fishing and kayaking on a lovely pond bonding with nature being about as in the moment as one could get. Tolerance and patience came to mind - I like those virtues - I don't have much experience with either of them, but today I feed t
