I heard a great story in church this week:

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 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 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?”

The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

I love that sentiment. I love how clearly it explains a premise I have always believed in, “no one can make you sad or angry except yourself.

Sure, people disappoint. They say and do hurtful things. They don’t live up to your vision for them.

How YOU decide to feel about that is up to YOU. What YOU take away from those experiences is up to YOU.

Feed the good wolf!