The Tale of the Two Canines: A Survival Struggle

The Tale of Two Canids: A Dominant Duo

In the heart of every individual, a constant struggle unfolds, a battle of two wolves, as told by an aging Cherokee warrior to his grandson. This legendary tale, popularized by American author and motivational speaker Gary Zukav, describes the internal conflict between positive and negative emotions.

The author finds themselves in the midst of this battle, feeling a constant struggle between these two wolves, attacking each other every day, hour, and minute. One wolf, resentful and angry about their circumstances, asserts that peace comes with authenticity and being real and transparent. The other wolf, on the other hand, reminds them of their blessings and the struggles of others, asserting that there is always room for hope, even if a heart is rock hard from trying and failing.

The resentful wolf believes their suffering is unique and wishes they could experience the ignorance of those who have never wanted to die. They build a wall around their morbid world to prevent being hurt again. The other wolf, however, asserts the deceptive nature of the wolf of despair but the powerful force of compassion and kindness. It reminds the individual of their track record for getting through difficult times being 100 percent.

The individual acknowledges feeding both wolves every day, inadvertently. They suggest that the other wolf will eventually get bored and stop begging for food if they keep feeding the wolf of peace and benevolence. The positive wolf represents emotions like joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. Conversely, the negative wolf represents emotions like anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

The Cherokee elder explains that the same internal struggle occurs in every person. The grandson asks which wolf will win, to which the elder replies, "The one you feed." The author recognizes the wisdom in these words, understanding that their actions and thoughts have a significant impact on the outcome of this inner battle.

In the face of adversity, the individual decides to continue hoping and having faith, even when good health seems impossible. They acknowledge that everyone has experienced some form of suffering and that people often project happy personas, hiding their hidden struggles. The other wolf asserts that biochemistries evolve, relationships shift, and situations change, implying the potential for healing and change.

In the end, the battle within remains a constant reminder of the power of choice, the importance of self-awareness, and the resilience of the human spirit. The author continues to strive for a balance, feeding the wolf of peace and benevolence, hoping to one day outlive the wolf of despair.