The story of the two wolves that live within us emphasizes the choices we have in dealing with opposing elements inside of us. In one version of the story, a young boy is unhappy with himself for fighting with his best friend and goes to his grandfather for advice. Grandfather tells him about the two wolves that live inside everyone. One wolf is kind, truthful, humble, loving and accepting, while the other is angry, mean, vicious, greedy, dishonest, and unconcerned about others. The two wolves frequently fight, and when the boy asks Grandfather who wins, Grandfather answers simply “the one you feed”.
This story appears in multiple cultures and mirrors the more modern concept of soul self versus ego. Our soul self is the part that recognizes connections, experiences compassion and seeks understanding, while the ego is geared towards self survival and self gratification. The soul/ego concept emphasizes that both of these aspects of our nature are necessary, and balance is the key to harmony. When out of balance, the soul self can neglect survival necessities and self care, and the out of balance ego is often the angry wolf, judgmental, greedy and cruel, wanting what it wants regardless of the impact on others or its environment. When the two are able to work together in harmony we can be kind, compassionate, helpful, and take good care of ourselves and our environment, aware of our interdependency.
What the two concepts have in common is the recognition of the need to choose which part to nourish and it can be helpful to ask yourself some questions. What feeds your soul? What makes you feel connected to the earth and to others? What allows you to take care of yourself and feel good about your relationships? And how do you incorporate more of those nourishments into your life? Conversely, what makes you feel out of balance and how do you resolve it to regain your equilibrium? When the little boy in the wolves story felt bad, he could have taken out his pain and frustration in a way that perpetuated more unbalance: he could have punished himself or hurt someone else with his words or actions. He knew Grandfather could help him find his balance so he chose to seek him out. Who do you turn to, or what do you do when feeling out of sorts?
One working definition of spirituality is to be in harmony with yourself and the world around you. That harmony is yours to shape by choosing more of what brings you balance, less of what throws you for a loop. If it gives you nightmares to watch the news or scary movies before bed, stop doing it; choose something else instead that contributes to restful sleep. We cannot totally avoid upsetting situations so have a plan for when one happens. Plans might include calling a trusted friend, taking a walk in nature, exercise, meditation, having a cup of tea. There is a lot of disharmony in the world today, a lot of angry wolves running loose. Don’t allow others' behavior to draw you into a state of unbalance. Nourishing yourself with acts of compassion, forgiveness, honesty, kindness, healthy eating, deep breathing, exercise, and whatever else floats your boat can help you stay centered even when chaos abounds. Perhaps doing so even makes a small contribution to the overall health and balance in the world. I like to think so.
This story appears in multiple cultures and mirrors the more modern concept of soul self versus ego. Our soul self is the part that recognizes connections, experiences compassion and seeks understanding, while the ego is geared towards self survival and self gratification. The soul/ego concept emphasizes that both of these aspects of our nature are necessary, and balance is the key to harmony. When out of balance, the soul self can neglect survival necessities and self care, and the out of balance ego is often the angry wolf, judgmental, greedy and cruel, wanting what it wants regardless of the impact on others or its environment. When the two are able to work together in harmony we can be kind, compassionate, helpful, and take good care of ourselves and our environment, aware of our interdependency.
What the two concepts have in common is the recognition of the need to choose which part to nourish and it can be helpful to ask yourself some questions. What feeds your soul? What makes you feel connected to the earth and to others? What allows you to take care of yourself and feel good about your relationships? And how do you incorporate more of those nourishments into your life? Conversely, what makes you feel out of balance and how do you resolve it to regain your equilibrium? When the little boy in the wolves story felt bad, he could have taken out his pain and frustration in a way that perpetuated more unbalance: he could have punished himself or hurt someone else with his words or actions. He knew Grandfather could help him find his balance so he chose to seek him out. Who do you turn to, or what do you do when feeling out of sorts?
One working definition of spirituality is to be in harmony with yourself and the world around you. That harmony is yours to shape by choosing more of what brings you balance, less of what throws you for a loop. If it gives you nightmares to watch the news or scary movies before bed, stop doing it; choose something else instead that contributes to restful sleep. We cannot totally avoid upsetting situations so have a plan for when one happens. Plans might include calling a trusted friend, taking a walk in nature, exercise, meditation, having a cup of tea. There is a lot of disharmony in the world today, a lot of angry wolves running loose. Don’t allow others' behavior to draw you into a state of unbalance. Nourishing yourself with acts of compassion, forgiveness, honesty, kindness, healthy eating, deep breathing, exercise, and whatever else floats your boat can help you stay centered even when chaos abounds. Perhaps doing so even makes a small contribution to the overall health and balance in the world. I like to think so.
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