The Two Wolves

The Two Wolves is a first nation fable about a grandfather who shares a powerful story with his grandson.

He tells him that there are two wolves living inside each of us. One wolf is white, symbolizing kindness, compassion, and love.The other is black, representing hatred, anger, and greed.

These two wolves, the grandfather explains, are constantly in battle.

The grandson pauses to reflect and then asks, “Which wolf will win?”

The grandfather replies, “The one you feed.”

This story is often used as a metaphor for the power of our thoughts and the importance of cultivating positive attitudes and behaviors.

It reminds us that we have a choice in how we think, act, and respond—and that our choices determine which “wolf” grows stronger within us.

The lesson of the story is to nurture the qualities of love, kindness, and compassion by feeding the “white wolf,” rather than giving in to negative emotions that fuel the “black wolf.”