The Two Wolves: What Most People Don’t Know About This Story
You’ve probably heard the story.
An old Cherokee grandfather tells his grandson that there’s a battle going on inside every person.
“A terrible fight,” he says. “Between two wolves. One wolf is anger, envy, pride, greed, fear.
The other is kindness, compassion, hope, love, truth."
“And which one wins?” the boy asks.
The grandfather replies, “The one you feed.”
Most people stop there. It’s a powerful ending. But it’s not the whole story.
Because the boy thinks for a moment, and then asks:
“What if I want to feed both?”
The grandfather smiles. “That’s a wise answer,” he says.
“If you feed only one, the other grows hungry, resentful, and waits for its chance. But if you feed them both — with awareness, care, and respect — they no longer fight. They find their place. They work together.”
He goes on:
“One teaches you strength, boundaries, survival. The other teaches you love, connection, and purpose.
One guards your truth, the other helps you speak it.
You need them both. They are part of you.”
An old Cherokee grandfather tells his grandson that there’s a battle going on inside every person.
“A terrible fight,” he says. “Between two wolves. One wolf is anger, envy, pride, greed, fear.
The other is kindness, compassion, hope, love, truth."
“And which one wins?” the boy asks.
The grandfather replies, “The one you feed.”
Most people stop there. It’s a powerful ending. But it’s not the whole story.
Because the boy thinks for a moment, and then asks:
“What if I want to feed both?”
The grandfather smiles. “That’s a wise answer,” he says.
“If you feed only one, the other grows hungry, resentful, and waits for its chance. But if you feed them both — with awareness, care, and respect — they no longer fight. They find their place. They work together.”
He goes on:
“One teaches you strength, boundaries, survival. The other teaches you love, connection, and purpose.
One guards your truth, the other helps you speak it.
You need them both. They are part of you.”
It was never about choosing one over the other, not about feeding the “right” wolf.
It’s about balance. Both wolves live in you for a reason.
One protects, the other connects.
One sets boundaries. The other opens your heart.
You need both.
When you stop trying to silence one and start listening to both, something shifts.
They don’t have to fight.
They can guide you — together.
It’s about balance. Both wolves live in you for a reason.
One protects, the other connects.
One sets boundaries. The other opens your heart.
You need both.
When you stop trying to silence one and start listening to both, something shifts.
They don’t have to fight.
They can guide you — together.
