An elderly woman from the Cherokee tribe sat on a wooden porch, the sun casting warm rays on her weathered face. She spoke to her granddaughter, sharing insights about life. The girl listened attentively, curious about her grandmother's inner peace and happiness.
The young boy, intrigued, turned to his grandmother and asked, “How did you become so content, wise, happy, loving, and grateful?”
The old woman paused, gathering her thoughts before responding.
“When I was young,” she began, “I learned that two wolves live in my heart. One wolf is black, and the other is white. Each day, at ten o'clock, these wolves engage in a fierce struggle. I realized that my daily happiness depended on which wolf I chose to nourish.”
She continued, “When I chose to feed the white wolf, the world around me became brighter and more vibrant. The white wolf embodies positive emotions and qualities, such as joy, peace, love, hope, and kindness. It represents everything that brings light into life—serenity, humility, empathy, generosity, truth, and compassion.”
Her voice became softer as she spoke of the black wolf. “When I focused on the black wolf, I encountered negative feelings and characteristics like anger, envy, and sadness. Greed, arrogance, and self-pity also emerged from this wolf. It brought guilt, feelings of inferiority, lies, false pride, and a sense of superiority over others.”
The old woman's words held weight, and she looked into her grandson’s eyes. “This same battle occurs within you, dear grandson, and it is a struggle that nearly every person on Earth faces.”
After processing her words, the grandson pondered and asked, “Which wolf will win?”
“The one you choose to feed,” the grandmother replied.
She then prompted her grandson to reflect deeper. “Which of the two wolves are you feeding?”
To understand which wolf holds power in our lives, we must recognize that both wolves reside within us. The black wolf, in particular, can be difficult to accept. This wolf often symbolizes the tendency to criticize ourselves and others. From this stems feelings of contempt, envy, aggression, violence, and rejection. It leads to hostility and a tendency to find fault or exclude those around us.
However, the black wolf is not without its strengths. It can embody determination, persistence, courage, and the ability to set boundaries. These traits can drive us, ensuring we stand firm in our beliefs and values. We must learn to tame and channel the black wolf's energy, using its constructive qualities while preventing it from causing harm to ourselves and those we love.
If we deny or ignore the black wolf, it can become a dangerous force. Repression can lead to unforeseen consequences, harming both ourselves and those around us.
The old Cherokee woman continued her story. “When you learn to feed them both properly, they can coexist in harmony. I found strength and balance by recognizing the roles of both wolves and their purposes in my life.”
The grandmother imparted wisdom to her grandson about the internal conflict that everyone endures. “We achieve resolution not by rejecting parts of ourselves, but by understanding them. To truly grow, we must make peace with both the black and white wolf within.”
She encouraged her grandson to think about how he relates to both wolves. “How do you connect with the forces within you?”
In this way, the old Cherokee woman shared a lesson on the importance of self-awareness and acceptance of all aspects of our nature.