Why are we called Good Wolf?
The name “Good Wolf” comes from a story attributed to Indigenous peoples of North America.
An Elder speaks...
“Two wolves live inside each of us – a good wolf and a bad wolf.
The good wolf is kind and compassionate. The bad wolf is warlike and destructive.
Throughout our lives these two wolves inside us are always at war.”
The Elder stops the story, and a young person asks, “Which wolf wins?”
The Elder replies, “The one you feed.”
This story is consistent with what we know about ourselves from neuroscience. We know much about what’s required for people to lead healthy lives, and about what motivates people to embrace their best capacities or their worst tendencies.
