In any given moment we can ask ourselves, "am I loving or judging?". Why? Becaise it can give us some insight in to what kind of energy we are putting out in to the world and where we are operating from. If we want positive outcomes we have to be willing to look inside and have awareness of which wolf we are feeding.
A Cherokee Legend
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “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 – his 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."
Have you ever met the kind of person who listens when you talk, who smiles often, and who says things that make the people around smile? This person is incredibly intelligent, but in a way that makes others feel comfortable. It’s the way they express themselves: in simple terms you can understand — almost like they have articulated the thoughts you already have in your head, but haven’t quite found the right words to say aloud.
And it doesn’t matter who you are, either. This person always has a way of relating to you. Because, in a way, this person has been there with you all along. They can think like you, so they understand you. It’s truly a special gift. So many of us have limitations in our perceptions. We understand the soldiers but not the politics governing the wars. We understand the people who go to the movies but not the ones who attend rodeos. But somehow, this person gets all of us. It's their gift and one that is so admirable. And once you return home after spending a night with this person, you’ll catch yourself smiling and thinking about how there needs to be more people like that in the world. Because if there were, there would be far less to worry about.
What if you or I could be this special person for someone else? What if we could consciously and consistently feed the good wolf? Too often people pass each other in a hurry without caring or thinking twice, or worse, judging them for not moving at a certain pace. What if we could pause or even stop more often, just to witness, listen with our whole body, and love? Because we forget, or perhaps never even learned, that every passing face has a story equally as captivating, complex and as worthy as our own. Each person has been through something that has forced them to struggle, adapt and grow, inadvertently changing them. They have fought hard, and continue to fight, just like us, and so their smiles, too, have been earned. The happiness and smiles we occasionally (and are lucky enough to) see is a beautiful thing. And even more beautiful is knowing that we are the reason behind it.
It is truly an experience to marvel and admire, teaching us more about love, witnessing and listening. If you have the power to make someone smile or be happier today, don't hold back. The world needs more of that. Take small chances on people, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest parts of our hearts.
Peace,
Anisha