Two Wolves Tale – Are You Feeding The Right Wolf?

The Story That Can Change Your Life

This is a well-known tale, a tale of a fight between good and evil. A fight that rages within us, a fight that can define us. This tale ends with the Cherokee claiming that this is a zero-sum game, the one you feed would win. As in all stories, in this too for the good to win, feed the good, and starve the evil. But is that the only way?

Is anything in life ever this black and white?

Is there more to this story than a simplification of every value, and every feeling being categorized as purely good or evil?

There is another version of this story that speaks of feeding both, so both win. I am on board with this one.

I am a huge Star Wars fan. Star Wars is the story of an eternal fight between the Jedi and the Sith, the former being portrayed as pure good, and the latter being portrayed as pure evil. But I believe neither absolutes can make your life wholesome, so what intrigues me are the Gray Jedi who embraced both Good and Evil, a balance of two extremes, and a practical approach to life.

To understand this let’s get to know the two wolves in detail.

The Light Wolf

The Cherokee say the light wolf drives joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. To nurture this wolf you need to be selfless and kind to all.

The kindness you show others makes the Light Wolf grow.

Being generous to others and having compassion for all would help the Light Wolf be more satisfied. As the wolf grows so do these feelings, and you start giving without limits, trusting others blindly, being kind to others, and sacrificing your happiness.

In the absence of the Shadow Wolf, you lose the sense of self.

The Shadow Wolf

Now the shadow wolf is the one that drives regret, greed, arrogance, guilt, and ego, normally considered evil.

But think about it, can you grow without greed?

Can you keep your actions in check in the absence of guilt?

Would you ever be able to know your self-worth in the absence of some ego?

Feeding the Shadow Wolf without checks will lead to a hollow life, but with checks in place, it complements the Light Wolf.

Maintaining The Balance

If we feed the Light Wolf without limits the Shadow Wolf lurks in the dark, desperate, looking to get in when we are most vulnerable.

There have been countless instances in the past of holy men who are supposed to be the living embodiment of the Light Wolves known to have given in to the Shadow Wolf.

A wolf in desperation knows no limit, it will strike not just to feed, but to kill and eradicate every possibility for its enemy to lift its head again. The enemy in this case is the Light Wolf.

So I say this, let the greed for more and the ego of knowing the self-worth not grow weak.

These feelings are what provide the courage to face pain, the will to persevere, and the strategy to bend the circumstance to your advantage.

When kindness and generosity go unchecked you are letting your guard down against the ones with malicious intent. Let the Shadow Wolf be your guard, let it take control to thwart the advances of the one who can harm the Light Wolf who because of its naivety is ignorant of the workings of this world.

The Shadow Wolf is the Yang to light Wolve’s Ying. Let them work with each other, not against each other, let them make you the force to be reckoned with.

Nurture both wolves, so both win. This war need not be a zero-sum game where one has to lose for you to win. The two wolves are essential for your existence, feed them both and bear the fruit.

Conclusion

As with everything in life extremes of kindness and generosity can lead to severe pain, to keep these feelings in check you have to have greed and ego.

If you follow my blogs here or on Medium you might already know I am a man who can be selfish, but this selfishness is to keep my generosity in check.

I want to give the world all I can, but what will I give if I have nothing left to offer?

So keep your Light Wolf in check with your Shadow Wolf and vice versa.

If anyone comes to you for help then give out of love, but remember if you ever feel you are being drained out and exploited, let the Shadow Wolf jump in and defend you.

This world can be cruel and loving at the same time, let the two wolves be your acquaintance to win this war against the world.

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Th story of the two wolves is to let you know what is important in life in terms of caring for others as well as yourself.

In the process of building a brand via service, your light wolf may tempt you to compromise your well-being to help others.

As a beginner, you may be naive to the ways of the world. Your shadow wolf has a huge role in ensuring you are on the right course and maintaining a balance.

So never let it go, maintain the balance.

This story was first published on Medium

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