“A grandfather is talking with his grandson and he says there are two wolves inside of us which are always at war with each other.
One of them is a good wolf which represents things like kindness, bravery and love. The other is a bad wolf, which represents things like greed, hatred and fear.
The grandson stops and thinks about it for a second then he looks up at his grandfather and says, “Grandfather, which one wins?” The grandfather quietly replies, the one you feed.”
- Unknown
I found this parable a few years back while searching for ‘motivational’ material. I often find the impact of motivational images and quotes to be transient. They make me feel motivated for an hour or even a day, but that feeling passes and I end up in the same, unmotivated position. Unlike most motivational posts, this one has stuck with me years later. At its core, it crystallizes a struggle we all experience. The tension between who we want to be and the resistance stopping us from living up to that standard.
The bad wolf manifests itself in many forms. Clinging to unhelpful emotions like jealousy and anger is one. Self-destructive behaviours including addiction and procrastination are others. Each of these manifestations of the bad wolf is incongruent with living a life aligned with our beliefs and values.
The depiction of the struggle between the bad wolf and the good wolf as a war is apt. It leaves no ambiguity about the discipline and commitment required to overcome our shortcomings. Further, it acknowledges that some days our bad wolves will win out, and that’s okay. Each time we are knocked down, we need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and feed the good wolf.
The struggle itself makes us stronger, and without it, our victories and achievements would be meaningless. Today, and every day, ask yourself: Which wolf am I feeding?
