One of the advantages of social media is that you have an opportunity to read posts that are inspirational and even timely. Here is one that I have read often and each time I read it, the words have a profound effect on me.

“An old Cherokee told his grandson, “My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all. One is evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope,humility, kindness, empathy, and truth.

The boy thought about it and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?” The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed.” (Author Unknown)

Each person may look at this in his/her own way. This isn’t one of those little tidbits that should only resonate with those of us in recovery. It is a universal story for every man and woman. But because I am in recovery, I can literally “fit” this story into my life today. I can associate it with the step work I have done. It is all about knowing what my defects are, humbly asking God to remove them, and replacing these with positive qualities that help to ensure sobriety and above all, peace and happiness.

This is about choices. Good choices. I have the opportunity today to choose how I want to behave. I am no longer a victim of my addiction. It is difficult for many who have not experienced addiction to understand that addiction is not about self-control or the ability to choose wisely. Oh, we as addicts choose but the choices are usually the ones that continue to feed our drug of choice as well as perpetuating our evil wolf’s “anger,jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego”. The old Cherokee of the story couldn’t have named my defects better.

We know how to feed the evil wolf but how do we feed the good wolf? It is impossible to just pray defect saway. Change requires action. I cannot merely pray to be kind. I also cannot feed my good wolf by isolating. Change comes from within and is gradual. For example, I had a difficult time telling the truth. I could lie about the smallest thing. Becoming truthful didn’t just happen when I stopped drinking. But when I did stop drinking, I had the ability to think through what I was going to say and make a choice: lie or truth? Little by little my truths took over my lies. My good wolf was beginning to take the lead! Today, although certainly far from perfect, I would like to think that I am on the right track.

The little story at the beginning of this article is thought provoking. It is meant for each of us to be serious about who we are. It is also about how others see us. I know I would much rather be known as a person of “joy, peace, love, hope, humility, kindness,empathy, and truth”. I would like others to see from the outside the wolf I am feeding on the inside. It is my hope that many of you out there will see this beautiful story as I have. Feed your good wolf, and remember that it is progress not perfection!

Namaste’. May you walk your journey in peace andharmony.

“Like”Grateful Recovery on Facebook. Kathy L.is the author of “The Intervention Book” (Conari Press)