Which wolf are you feeding?

“Whatever you pay attention to and focus on, gets bigger. Attend to what you want, not what you fear or despise.”

After a speaking event last week, an audience member shared that over the past few months her son had simply lost passion for his life. We chatted about her son, what he used to like, how he’s acting today and the various reasons why he is so discouraged.

With a line of people forming behind her, she eventually summed it up by saying, “I think for him it comes down to this: He just doesn’t believe there are any good people left in the world.”

I signed a book for the son and gave her a big hug. I also provided my information to stay in touch, shared a couple resources to consider and included a link to a story my dad once shared with me.

The story’s been told countless times. There are many different variations to it, but my favorite claims to be part of a Cherokee legend and is titled, Two Wolves. 

The story depicts the two natures within us and around us. It points out the clear divide between our good and our evil nature. As you read it below, I ask you to do so as if it’s your first time and as the lessons within might profoundly influence your life.

 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. Then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"
 The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed.” 

My friends, it’s easy on a Monday morning to read something like this, write it off as being an old fashion fable and ignore it as not relevant for your current situation.

Instead, I challenge you to acknowledge the profound impact of intentionally choosing your focus each day. It turns out that whatever you choose to pay attention to most certainly gets bigger. [Tweet this]

You may choose to be like many of our friends in politics and media focusing on anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. And you’ll be utterly convinced there aren’t good people left in the world. Not even the one in the mirror.

OR (and this is the good news for all of us!) you can choose to view those around you making a difference, impacting lives, helping things get better. These are the individuals who focus on the good by living in joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. In seeking these traits and the kind of people who model them you’ll be convinced there are countless good people left in the world.

Including the one in the mirror. This is your day. Live Inspired.