Feed The White Wolf

There is a Cherokee Legend that goes like this:

An old Cherokee was teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside of 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, 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 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."

Special thanks to the First People - The Legends website for gathering these wonderful stories. For the extended version of this legend, check out Two Wolves.

This story got me thinking about all that we are facing in the world right now, challenges of sustainability, healthcare reform, shifting economy; the list goes on. It is easy for us to become focused on the "Black Wolf." Yet equally in our communities and businesses there are stories of hope, generosity, passion, innovation and discovery---and this list goes on as well.

As we navigate through this pack of black wolves, it is more important then ever to remember the grandfather's advice and "Feed The White Wolves."