Thought control

19 AUGUST 2021.  By Nadine Hickman

Each of our individual experiences of lockdown is vastly different depending on our circumstances. Are we self-employed, employed, unemployed? Is our home harmonious and a safe and enjoyable place to be? We can't control our circumstances, but we can control our thoughts. Lockdown is here, whether we like it or not, rather than 'go through it', we may as well try and 'grow through it'. Here's an impactful story that can help you to take control of the wolves (thoughts) in your mind.

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 a black wolf. He 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 a white wolf. He 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?”

There's another version to the ending of the story and it goes like this:

The old Cherokee simply replied, 

“If you feed them right, they both win.”

and the story goes on:

“You see, if I only choose to feed the white wolf, the black one will be hiding around every corner waiting for me to become distracted or weak and jump to get the attention he craves. He will always be angry and will always fight the white wolf.”
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“But if I acknowledge him, he is happy and the white wolf is happy and we all win. For the black wolf has many qualities — tenacity, courage, fearlessness, strong-willed and great strategic thinking–that I have need of at times. These are the very things the white wolf lacks. But the white wolf has compassion, caring, strength and the ability to recognize what is in the best interest of all.”

“You see, son, the white wolf needs the black wolf at his side. To feed only one would starve the other and they will become uncontrollable. To feed and care for both means they will serve you well and do nothing that is not a part of something greater, something good, something of life.”

“Feed them both and there will be no more internal struggle for your attention. And when there is no battle inside, you can listen to the voices of deeper knowledge that will guide you in choosing what is right in every circumstance.”

“Peace, my son, is the Cherokee mission in life. A man or a woman who has peace inside has everything. A man or a woman who is pulled apart by the war inside him or her has nothing.”
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“How you choose to interact with the opposing forces within you will determine your life. You choose : Starve one or the other, or guide them both.”