FEEDING THE GOOD WOLF
It's three in the morning as I write this... on the day it's to be published. I've been fighting myself about a topic this week and delayed writing until this very moment. I still am unsure what to write that may inspire you that you are capable of happiness abound. So instead, I'll share this:
The two wolves.
Have you heard the story of the two wolves? The story goes, that an Indian elder is speaking to his grandson:
““A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy.
”It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.”
He continued, “The other is good – he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.””
I'm sure you've heard this story but today, this morning, I needed the reminder. The reason I've struggled with a topic today is because I find myself feeding the evil wolf.
The wolf I've been feeding.
Last week, I went out of my comfort zone and boldly sought after something that could completely shift my life. It's been a week and I've heard nothing back. Crickets. Enter: self-doubt and pity, inferiority, and envy. The evil wolf.
I find myself hurt, sad, and doubting. I'm wondering if I'm going to be stuck doing the same thing at the same place for the rest of forever. That thought is unbearable. It leaves me hopeless and angry, sad and feeling resigned. The wolves are fighting and I'm feeding the evil one right now. But I know it's time to feed the hope, truth, compassion, and faith in myself instead.
How do you pull yourself out of a funk?
It feels difficult to write this because it is this morning that I am deciding to pull myself away from feeding the evil wolf and looking to regain some goodness and positivity in this area of my life. I'm going to start with these truths and instructions to myself:
Keep trying. If I give up, I will stay where I am.
Know there is always a lesson to learn and to grow from.
Explore the triggers behind these thoughts so I am better prepared next time.
Share these non-perfect moments with the world to work through them AND to help others.
Write down things I am grateful for.
Trust. Trust. Trust! In divine timing.
- Take a small break to heal my wounds and then get back into being bold.
What do you do to pull yourself out of a funk? Have you been feeding the evil wolf? If so, let's start, together, to feed the good wolf. What truths must you live by to feed the good wolf?
Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash
Audio reading of this post on the Happiness Abound Podcast, Episode 29.