The Tale of Two Wolves: Choosing What We Feed Within

I ran across this story a few years ago and found it very interesting. The wisdom of this old Cherokee adage has only grown more relevant with time.
Since my wife is of 1/8 Cherokee heritage—I’ve been curious of the Cherokee people.

In our current era of often endless chaos, where civility appears increasingly rare and digital confrontations have become the norm, this ancient teaching offers remarkable insight.

Each day—we witness the increase of self-appointed keyboard warriors, half-cocked to share their opinions on every topic. The modern landscape of social media has created an environment where outrage flourishes and emotional sensitivity—what some might call the “epidemic of offense”—has reached unprecedented levels.

This ancient story speaks directly to our internal struggles and reminds us that the power of choice remains firmly in our hands, regardless of external circumstances.

The parable tells of an old Cherokee teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” the elder said. “It is a terrible battle between two wolves. One represents anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”

A fight is going on inside me,” the elder said. “It is a terrible battle between two wolves.”

He continued, “The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too.”

The grandson thought for a moment and then asked, “Which wolf will win?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

Leadership Lessons from the Two Wolves Within

In a world brimming with provocations and opportunities for conflict, this wisdom reminds us that we ultimately determine our internal state. When we encounter hostility or disagreement, we face a choice: feed the wolf of reactivity and resentment, or nourish the wolf of understanding and compassion.

Perhaps the path forward through our divisive times isn’t found in changing others’ minds or proving our righteousness, but in mindfully choosing which aspects of ourselves we cultivate each day.

The question remains as relevant now as it was generations ago: which wolf are you feeding today?​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

In our world today that seems to be of chaos, lack of civility, keyboard warriors with an opinion on everything—the uptick in butt-hurt is worse now—more than ever.
The Cherokee tale of two wolves offers a powerful metaphor for the internal battles we all face, especially during challenging times like a pandemic. This ancient wisdom reminds us that we have a choice in which aspects of ourselves we nurture.

Key Lessons from the Tale of Two Wolves:

We all have opposing forces within us – represented by the “good wolf” (positive qualities) and the “bad wolf” (negative qualities)
The wolf that dominates our character is the one we choose to “feed” through our attention and actions
Experiencing negative emotions is natural and normal, but we can choose how much space we give them
Our true nature reveals itself during times of pressure or crisis (“when squeezed”)
We can observe which “wolf” others are feeding through their behaviors and communications
We have the power to consciously select which internal qualities we nurture
Feeding the good wolf doesn’t eliminate negative emotions – it means choosing to focus beyond them
Our choice of which wolf to feed shapes our entire experience of challenging situations
We can be selective about whose influence we allow in our lives based on which “wolf pack” they belong to
Maintaining perspective on positive, productive, and beneficial aspects of life strengthens our good wolf
This wisdom is particularly relevant during difficult times when both wolves compete more intensely for our attention

The story invites us to ask ourselves: “Which wolf am I feeding today?”​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​