One evening an old Cherokee woman told her grand daughter about a conflict that exists within people. She said, "My dear, a struggle between two wolves is inside us all.
One is selfish, protective and sometimes aggressive. She expresses herself as anger, envy, sorrow, regret, criticism, greed, arrogance, desire, guilt, resentment, pride, deception, superiority, and ego.
The other is unselfish and loving. This wolf brings peace, joy, hope,
serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, honesty,
compassion, and faith."
Her granddaughter thought about this for a minute and then asked: "Which wolf wins?"
"Neither can win until they both win, by learning to help each other and work together harmoniously. Life is not about winning, its about finding balance," responded her grandmother.
"I don't understand."
"You see, these wolves were born together, they are twins. If you only choose to feed the loving wolf, the selfish one will be hiding around every corner waiting for you to become distracted or weak.. She will always be hungry, always competing with her twin sister.
But if we acknowledge her, she is happy and the loving wolf is happy and we find balance in our lives.
For the selfish wolf has many qualities - tenacity, courage, fearlessness, strong-will and great strategic thinking - that we have need of at times and that her sister lacks.
But the caring wolf has compassion, joy, humility and wisdom-- the ability to recognize what is in the best interest of all.
To feed only one would starve the other and the qualities they represent will become uncontrollable. 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 of life.
Feed them both and there will be no more internal struggle for your attention. And when there is no battle inside, you can listen to the voices of deeper knowing that will guide you in choosing what is right in every circumstance.
Peace, my dear, is the Cherokee mission in life. A person who has peace inside has everything. A person who is pulled apart by the war inside of him or her has nothing.
How you choose to interact with the opposing forces within you will determine your life. Starve one or the other or guide and love them both."
Adapted from Cassandra Tribe's telling of this story: http://ctribe.blogspot.jp/2011/04/cherokee-wolf.html
Her granddaughter thought about this for a minute and then asked: "Which wolf wins?"
"Neither can win until they both win, by learning to help each other and work together harmoniously. Life is not about winning, its about finding balance," responded her grandmother.
"I don't understand."
"You see, these wolves were born together, they are twins. If you only choose to feed the loving wolf, the selfish one will be hiding around every corner waiting for you to become distracted or weak.. She will always be hungry, always competing with her twin sister.
But if we acknowledge her, she is happy and the loving wolf is happy and we find balance in our lives.
For the selfish wolf has many qualities - tenacity, courage, fearlessness, strong-will and great strategic thinking - that we have need of at times and that her sister lacks.
But the caring wolf has compassion, joy, humility and wisdom-- the ability to recognize what is in the best interest of all.
To feed only one would starve the other and the qualities they represent will become uncontrollable. 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 of life.
Feed them both and there will be no more internal struggle for your attention. And when there is no battle inside, you can listen to the voices of deeper knowing that will guide you in choosing what is right in every circumstance.
Peace, my dear, is the Cherokee mission in life. A person who has peace inside has everything. A person who is pulled apart by the war inside of him or her has nothing.
How you choose to interact with the opposing forces within you will determine your life. Starve one or the other or guide and love them both."
Adapted from Cassandra Tribe's telling of this story: http://ctribe.blogspot.jp/2011/04/cherokee-wolf.html
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