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The Wolves Within Us





A few nights ago I was privy to this wonderful tale of the two wolves. It is a Native American tale that depicts the struggle within man. For those of you who have not heard of this tale, read below:



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 THOUGHT ABOUT

IT FOR A MINUTE AND THEN ASKED

HIS GRANDFATHER:

"WHICH WOLF WINS?..."

THE OLD CHEROKEE SIMPLY REPLIED,

"THE ONE THAT YOU FEED"


I find this tale very intriguing. I believe that most anyone would delight in this tale because it speaks of the struggle we all face. This tale cements within us that although we are all going through an internal war, we are not alone. We are all going through the same battle. 



 I want to bring to light the hidden message behind this tale. This tale as I see it is not about the struggle itself. What this elder was teaching his grandson was a lesson in compassion and empathy. The elder stresses that this battle resides within all of us in an attempt to teach the child that judgement is not a virtue. If we understand that we all are struggling, we can treat every person with the compassion that can only be extended through empathy. That is, the understanding of another's plight because you yourself experience that same plight.

If we understand that everyone is fighting their own demons, we are more apt to treat them with kindness when they are rude, abrasive, intolerable, or aggressive. We understand that we sometimes act the same way because our own demons sometimes get the better of us. And yet we still fight.

Knowing that we are all struggling internally, next time someone is rude to you, which wolf will you choose to show them?

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