The Story of Two Wolves: Which One Will You Feed?

Key Takeaways

Symbol of Inner Conflict: The story of two wolves symbolizes the universal inner battle between our positive and negative emotions.
The Power of Choice: The wolf that grows stronger is the one you consciously feed with your daily thoughts, choices, and actions.
Daily Decisions Matter: Every moment presents a choice between love or hate, gratitude or envy, and forgiveness or resentment.
Master Your Inner World: Gaining control over your internal state leads to emotional strength, peace, and personal power.
A Lesson in Self-Awareness: The tale teaches emotional discipline and the importance of intentional living.
Universal Truth: It reminds us that no one is born purely good or bad; we all carry both wolves within us.

Introduction: A Timeless Native Parable

Across campfires and generations, one of the most powerful moral tales ever told begins with an old Cherokee elder sitting beside his grandson.

“Grandfather,” the boy asks, “why do some people live in peace while others are full of anger?”

The old man nods slowly and says:

“There is a battle going on inside every one of us. A fight between two wolves…”

This short yet profound story has resonated across cultures, psychology books, and spiritual teachings because the truth it reveals is universal: within each of us are competing forces that shape our every choice, mood, and outcome in life.

The Tale: The Two Wolves Within

“One wolf is evil,” the grandfather says. “It is anger, envy, greed, arrogance, self-pity, resentment, lies, and ego.”

“The other wolf is good,” he continues. “It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness, empathy, generosity, truth, and faith.”

“These two wolves are always fighting.”

The boy thinks for a moment and asks:

“Which wolf will win?”

The grandfather replies:

“The one you feed.”

The Psychology Behind the Parable

This ancient parable maps beautifully onto modern psychological understanding. It reflects the internal conflict between:

The shadow self vs. the higher self
Negative self-talk vs. empowering beliefs
Impulsive reactions vs. conscious responses

Your brain constantly scans the world for threats and opportunities. The amygdala (your fear center) is quick to react, while your prefrontal cortex (your logical mind) takes longer to respond with reason and empathy.

The wolf you feed isn't just an emotional choice; it's a neural one. Repetition strengthens specific mental circuits. If you keep reacting with anger, that pathway deepens. If you repeatedly choose gratitude, that mental muscle strengthens. In essence, your repeated choices become your character.

Everyday Scenarios: Feeding One Wolf Over the Other

Let’s bring the wolves into real-life situations.

Scenario 1: Someone cuts you off in traffic.

Feed the evil wolf: You rage, curse, and tailgate them.
Feed the good wolf: You breathe, let it go, and focus on your safety.

Scenario 2: A friend succeeds before you.

Feed the evil wolf: You feel envy, self-doubt, and bitterness.
Feed the good wolf: You celebrate them, feel inspired, and recommit to your own path.

Scenario 3: You fail publicly.

Feed the evil wolf: You feel shame, blame others, and want to quit.
Feed the good wolf: You learn from the experience, adapt, and rise again.

Each scenario shows that feeding a wolf happens in the micro-moments of your day.

How to Consciously Feed the Good Wolf

Feeding the good wolf is an intentional practice. Here are daily habits that nourish the positive and starve the negative:

Self-Awareness: Notice your thoughts before they spiral. Ask: “Is this thought useful?” Pause before you react.
Gratitude Practice: Start and end your day by naming three things you’re grateful for. This rewires your brain to see abundance over lack.
Acts of Kindness: Be kind to others, even when you don’t feel like it. Every act strengthens your good wolf.
Positive Input: Feed your mind with uplifting books, music, and conversations. Unfollow negativity online and curate your inner world.
Forgiveness: Let go of old resentments. Forgiveness is not for them; it’s for you.
Meditation & Mindfulness: Sitting with your thoughts teaches you that you are the observer of your emotions, not a victim of them.
Discipline: Do what builds character, not what offers comfort. The good wolf grows in the gym of challenge.

A Warning: How We Unconsciously Feed the Evil Wolf

Sometimes, we feed the wrong wolf without even realizing it through actions like:

Complaining without taking action
Engaging in gossip
Comparing our lives to others' highlight reels
Holding onto grudges
Consuming rage-fueled content online
Always needing to "win" an argument

These actions may feel momentarily satisfying, but they empower the darker wolf. Over time, they shape a bitter, fearful, or angry identity. The scariest part? The more we feed the evil wolf, the more he feels like who we really are.

But it’s not true. You are what you feed today, not what you’ve fed in the past.

Conclusion: A Choice That Builds Your Future

The story of the two wolves is short, but its impact is lifelong. It hands you the most important truth of all: you are not at the mercy of your emotions. You are the master of your responses.

Every decision to love, forgive, rise, or breathe is a vote for the wolf you want to become.

So the next time life tests you, stop for a moment. Feel the pull of both wolves. And ask yourself: