This article marks our 60th offering of Generational Gems, demonstrating just how many wonderful stories are available to guide us and our Future Leaders today. This Gem can be traced back to our Native American ancestry and, while very simplistic, speaks volumes as to the impact we can have on our own destiny.
Two Wolves.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all.
“One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
“The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf wins?”
The wise old Cherokee grandfather simply replied, “The one you feed!”
This tale is as true today as it was when shared with the young Indian brave. Pause to contemplate the actions of those around you. Can you tell who is feeding which wolf? It’s actually pretty easy to detect. If asked, could others easily detect which wolf you’re feeding? Now that’s food for thought! The choice is yours!
About Harry K. Jones
Harry K. Jones is a motivational speaker and consultant for AchieveMax®, Inc., a company of professional speakers who provide custom-designed seminars, keynote presentations, and consulting services. Harry's top requested topics include change management, customer service, creativity, employee retention, goal setting, leadership, stress management, teamwork, and time management. For more information on Harry's presentations, please call 800-886-2629 or fill out our contact form.