Feeding the Right Wolf

Feeding the Right Wolf

A Native American grandpa sits with his grandson
“Why do people do bad things, grandpa?”
I like to think of this way: inside each of us there are two wolves. There’s a mean, hateful wolf and also a loving, compassionate wolf. And maybe they fight inside us.
“Well, how do we know who wins?”
The one who wins is the one we choose to feed, son.

For me, the image works well. I can sense sometimes when I’m feeding the wrong wolf and when I can switch gears, and find the more loving one to feed … “ahhh, much better.” But what I realized this morning is this: if I have two wolves inside then so does everyone else. And if mine need feeding then so does everyone else’s. If I think about it, I can find a plenty of times when I’ve fed someone else's hateful wolf. Of course, it’s not so peaceful to think that I am the cause of someone’s hateful words. But for me, it’s helpful to think that if I look carefully, I may be able to figure out how to feed their compassionate wolf and help switch our dance. It’s so satisfying when I can find that loving place and touch it. Either that or run and hide when I see them approaching .. either one.