There are two wolves inside us, always fighting. One represents darkness and despair. The other represents light and hope. The question is: Which wolf wins?
The answer is simple: The one you feed.
I first heard this story in a movie a few years ago, and it deeply touched me. It is often shared as a Native American Cherokee story. Regardless of its exact origin, its message is powerful and universal.
Let me share it with you.
An old grandfather is teaching his grandson about life.
He says:
“My son, there is a battle inside each of us. It is a terrible fight between two wolves.
One is evil. It is anger, envy, 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, generosity, empathy, truth, compassion, and faith.
The same fight is going on inside you — and inside every other person.”
The grandson thinks about it for a moment and then asks:
“Which wolf will win?”
The old man replies simply:
“The one you feed.”
A beautiful story, isn’t it? It carries a powerful message and teaches us one essential truth: we decide.
It is up to us to choose which wolf we will feed. It does not depend on anyone else. It depends on us. This story reminds us that we all carry a great power within us: the power to decide who we are and how we respond to life. Through our choices, we shape our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours.
There are two wolves within us. They are opposites, yet they exist together. They struggle, they challenge each other, and in the end, one becomes stronger than the other. The one that wins is the one we choose to nourish.
At every moment, we have the opportunity to decide which wolf will win the battle. Our circumstances and the people we meet may influence us, but they do not control us. In the end, the responsibility is ours. The wolf that wins more battles is the one we have fed the most.
So the question is: Which one are you choosing to feed?
“I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.” – Stephen R. Covey
The first and most important question we should ask ourselves is: Who am I?
Which wolf do you identify with?
Which one reflects your true self?
Which one represents the person you want to become?
When you begin to answer these questions honestly, you begin to live with intention. You start choosing your actions according to your values and becoming the best version of yourself.
Every single day, in every situation, you have the power to decide:
Am I going to feed fear or courage today?
Anger or compassion?
Resentment or forgiveness?
Hopelessness or hope?
Am I going to let external situations control my emotions and reactions, or am I going to act according to my true self?
The decision is yours.
And that is often the hardest part to accept. It is easier to blame others, circumstances, or the past than to take responsibility for our own thoughts, words, and actions. But real freedom begins when we recognize that we are responsible for how we respond to life.
Always remember: it does not matter who you were yesterday. What truly matters is who you choose to be today. Your past does not define you. You define yourself through your present choices.
“Who are you now? Who have you decided you really are now? Don’t think about who you have been. Who are you now? Who have you decided to become? Make this decision consciously. Make it carefully. Make it powerfully.” – Tony Robbins
Take a moment to reflect.
Think about the last few days. Which wolf have you been feeding? How do you feel about that?
If your life is filled with peace, gratitude, and hope — even when things are not perfect — it is likely that you have been nourishing the right wolf. You have chosen resilience over despair and love over fear, even when life gave you many reasons to do the opposite.
This is your power.
When you recognize that you have control over your choices, you become free. You are no longer a prisoner of circumstances. You are no longer at the mercy of external events.
Two wolves. One decision. One life. You choose. Your actions shape who you are and create your destiny. So tell me, my friend: Which wolf are you going to feed today? 💛