Which Wolf Are You Feeding Today?

Hey you, yes you! So glad you’re here, ❤️! I hope everyone is having a meaningful weekend!

There’s a story I want to share with you today - one that has stayed with me since I first heard it during a Relationship with Self meditation series that I was practising. It completely shifted the way I think about self-acceptance, and I hope it does the same for you.

One evening, a wise elder sat by the fire with a group of children, their faces glowing in the flickering light.

“Inside every person,” the elder began, “there are two wolves locked in a battle.”

The children leaned in, eager to hear more.

“One wolf is filled with fear, anger, and doubt. It tells you that you’re not good enough, that life is unfair, and that you should be afraid of change. This wolf wants you to fight against yourself, to hide your struggles, and to believe you’re unworthy of love.”

The children shuddered. They didn’t like the sound of that wolf.

“But the other wolf is different. This wolf is strong, kind, and brave. It tells you that you are enough, even with your flaws. It reminds you to be gentle with yourself, to learn from challenges, and to embrace who you are. This wolf wants you to grow, to love yourself, and to live with courage.”

One child, wide-eyed with curiosity, asked,“Which wolf wins?”

The elder smiled. “The one you feed.”

When I heard this story, it hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. And then, not long after, I found myself thinking about two guests I had the privilege of meeting during their stay with us.

Kristine and her mother, Kelly, had come for a much-needed getaway. Kristine had a successful career in government, but when Kelly was diagnosed with cancer, she made the difficult decision to leave her job and focus on taking care of her mom. She moved Kelly into her home and became her full-time caregiver - overseeing her nutrition, treatments, and mental well-being.

When they checked out, I walked outside to say goodbye. If you didn’t know Kelly had cancer, you never would have guessed. She was full of life, chatting like we were old friends, radiating this warmth that was absolutely contagious. She told me how Kristine had helped her shift her lifestyle, how she had started to believe in healing, and how her latest medical tests showed signs of improvement. She was hopeful. She was strong.

But she wasn’t always that way.

Kelly shared that when she was first diagnosed, she was consumed by fear. The Wolf of Fear had its claws deep in her. It whispered that her life was over, that she was a burden, that she should hide her struggles from her family. And for a while, she listened. She isolated herself, disconnected, and struggled to even look in the mirror.

But one day, she made a different choice.

She stopped feeding the Wolf of Fear and started feeding the Wolf of Strength. She told her family the truth. She accepted support. She chose to fight - not just the disease, but the mindset that was keeping her stuck. And you know what she does every single day to remind herself of that choice?

She puts on her lipstick.

Self-acceptance is strength. It’s the moment you stop fighting who you are and start standing with yourself.”

It’s such a simple thing, but it’s powerful. That small act is her way of saying, I’m still here. I’m still me. And I’m choosing strength today.

Kelly’s story is a reminder that we all have those two wolves inside us. The Wolf of Fear will always be there, whispering doubts, insecurities, and worries. But so is the Wolf of Strength, waiting for you to choose it.

So today, ask yourself: Which wolf are you feeding? The one that keeps you small or the one that helps you rise? The choice is yours.

Take what resonates.
Leave what doesn’t.
And come back whenever you need a pause.