ONE EVENING, AN ELDERLY
CHEROKEE BRAVE TOLD HIS
GRANDSON ABOUT A BATTLE THAT
GOES ON INSIDE PEOPLE.
HE SAID "MY SON, THE BATTLE IS
BETWEEN TWO 'WOLVES' INSIDE US ALL.
ONE IS EVIL. IT IS ANGER,
ENVY, JEALOUSY, SORROW,
REGRET, GREED, ARROGANCE,
SELF-PITY, GUILT, RESENTMENT,
INFERIORITY, LIES, FALSE PRIDE,
SUPERIORITY, AND EGO.
THE OTHER IS GOOD.
IT IS JOY, PEACE LOVE, HOPE SERENITY,
HUMILITY, KINDNESS, BENEVOLENCE,
EMPATHY, GENEROSITY,
TRUTH, COMPASSION AND FAITH."
THE GRANDSON THOUGH ABOUT
IT FOR A MINUTE AND THEN ASKED
HIS GRANDFATHER:
"WHICH WOLF WINS?..."
THE OLD CHEROKEE SIMPLY REPLIED,
"THE ONE THAT YOU FEED"- https://www.nanticokeindians.org/page/tale-of-two-wolves
It’s really very interesting to see this idea and how much sense it makes. I suppose I automatically related this to the Angel and Demon voices I referred to in my ‘The Voices that are them.’ piece of writing. Although I cannot quite figure out which is which. Is the Angel the good wolf or the bad wolf?? I suppose they both play a part in each. The Angel tells me to be selfish in a way as I need to look after myself, however by doing so I always fear I would be neglecting others and this is where the demons voice comes in. So what I am trying to say is that the demons voice is likely to be what pushes me to help others as if I do not all I can think is that I am useless.
Although, as my therapist has recently told me, I cannot look after others If I do not look after myself. So I need to feed that Angel voice in me before I can be fully helpful to others.
This is such a thought provoking cultural idea as it really makes you think about who you are as a person and inspired you to understand which Wolf you should be feeding. Which one you which to dominate your life and actions.