There's a Cherokee legend that Jane likes. Keep in mind, it might not be Cherokee in origin at all and it might not be a legend. Jane didn't check the origin or the authenticity because she feels that doesn't matter. What does matter is the point. And what is the point? Well, it's all about wolves.
An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...
A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
"One is evil...he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt and ego.
The other is good...he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
This same fight is going on inside you...and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"
The old chief simply replied...
"The one you feed."
*********************
It's hard to feed the right wolf. That other one is hungry, too, and besides that he's pushy. But the more you feed the good wolf, the stronger he grows. And at some point you might be aware of the bad wolf sliding back into the shadows. Jane is convinced he never really gives up, but perhaps when denied what he wants most he becomes nearly dormant.
Like many legends, this one makes the right choice sound almost too simple. Feed the good wolf and all will be well. If it really were that easy, why aren't we all filled with those characteristics, those wonderful traits that accompany the good wolf? Because (and this is just Jane's bit of philosophy here) it is often very, very easy to convince ourselves that we are actually feeding the good wolf when in fact we are tossing food willy nilly to the bad one. It is very, very easy to become so wrapped up in justifications for our own behavior and choices and to feel entitled and deserving of what we want without any regard to what we are actually encouraging inside us.
Let's be clear. Jane is no saint. She's not standing here offering judgment about anyone's choices or anyone's wolves. She can't. She's far too busy dealing with her own. But she likes this legend enough to want to share it and she likes it enough to have it printed out and hanging on her refrigerator. What better spot, yes? Whenever she reaches for food, the wise Cherokee chief's words are right in front of her. She can nurture the body and consider how she is nurturing the soul all at the same time. Multitasking, Jane style.
The thing is, current life events have brought this lesson home time and time again. Jane realizes the temptation in her own life to wallow in resentment, pride and ego. She knows the lure of anger and self-doubt. Some might offer that Jane is entitled to feel a good bit of that. Jane, however, disagrees. As tempting as it might be to feed the bad wolf, just for a bit, the truth is that negative hunger is rarely satisfied with a snack here and there. Negativity and everything else associated with the bad wolf, demands more no matter how much you give it. Soon, all too soon, there is little room for anything else.
The good wolf also has a constant appetite and feeding it again and again also results in little room for anything else. But choosing to feed this wolf means you are filled with so much that is beautiful and bright and positive. You are so filled with it, you glow. Jane knows this to be true and she would far rather embrace those attributes. Even when it's not easy. Even when part of her wants to wallow down with the bad wolf and work up a great big sulk.
Jane is determined to turn her back on the bad wolf and to reach out time and time again to the good wolf. She arms herself with positive energy and daily gratitude and words of affirmation and she notices that every day the good wolf gets stronger. And when that happens, so does Jane.
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