There is a story, usually attributed to the Native American tradition, which illuminates
different ways of paying attention. An elder, talking to a child, says, “I have 2 wolves
fighting in my heart. One wolf is fearful, vengeful, envious, resentful, and deceitful.
The other wolf is compassionate, loving, generous, truthful and peaceful.”
The child asks, “Which wolf will win the fight?”
The elder responds, “The one I feed.” That doesn’t mean we try to deny, or
hurt or kill the angry wolf. If we did that, we’d end up in a long battle, all the while
somehow making that wolf more powerful through our hostility and fear. Hating that wolf sucks
the strength right out of us. Instead, we calmly pay attention to the angry wolf, and
let go of believing they have the answers. If we can do that, they end up lying down
next to us, no longer an enemy.
We help strengthen the kind and loving wolf,
giving it nourishment and support, so that we can follow it
it. That peaceful wolf can become our steady companion, and show us the way through all
kinds of different life experiences. Restful or chaotic, enjoyable or disappointing experiences
may come and go, but we can have a guide with us through it all.
This is what mindfulness can help you do. Mindfulness allows us to see our thoughts
and feelings as they are beginning.
It’s very powerful to know what we’re feeling as we’re feeling it. Know what we’re
thinking as we’re thinking it. With mindfulness we can choose what will strengthen and bring into action,
and we can choose what we will gently let go of.
We don’t have to be at the mercy of old habits or old ways of thinking, or old ways of being. We are empowered. It just takes practice.