There is a Fight Going on Within Us All — It is a Terrible Fight and it is Between Our Two Selves.
Which “Self” will win?
You may have heard of the insightful and profound parable which has been known as, “Two Wolves”, “Which One Do You Feed” or “Grandfather Tells.” I remember it well, and I understood its message and shared it occasionally, but it did not have a direct impact on my life.
As I began to do my inner work and Self-Discovery, I became Self-Aware to the debilitating conflict inside myself. It was not the two wolves I identified with, but my two selves — my False-Self and my True-Self.
The tale of “Two Wolves” inspired me to write what I believe to be a more relatable and relevant adaption.
There is indeed a fight within us all, and my adaption, “Two Selves,” illustrates the most important battle of our lives- the one between the False-Self and our True-Self.
“The Battle of Our Two Selves”
Several wise elders are teaching their children about life…
“A fight is going on inside us,” they said. “It is a terrible fight and it is between our two Selves. One is unconsciously destructive — filled with fear, sorrow, anger, confusion, misery, disappointment, lies, suffering, anxiety, depression and ego.”
They continued, “The other consciously good — filled with love, peace, joy, light, 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 children thought about this for a moment and then asked their elders, “Which Self will win?”
The wise elders simply replied, “Love will always win, if you let it. Be love.”
Our negative thoughts can create anxiety, anger, resentment, jealousy — an array of emotions. Negative thinking is normal. However, if this way of thinking becomes incessant, it can lead to depression and self-destructive behavior like addictions, derailing us from what we want most in life.
At a minimum, negative thinking saps our energy, erodes our self-confidence, and can put us in a bad mood. Certainly, many would agree that our thoughts come and go so quickly that it seems impossible to notice them, but with awareness and an attitude of self-compassion, we can redirect our negative thoughts to more positive ones.
Our thoughts can be our own worst enemy. That is if we let them. Think about how unconsciously your negative thoughts rule your mind. Next time you have a negative thought, catch it and ask yourself, “What is this thought doing for me?” You will find that the answer is that all they are doing is disempowering you. You can immediately feel more empowered by focusing on something good in your life and cultivate the practice of gratitude.
We can create greater peace, confidence and a more positive outlook by learning how to manage our thoughts. This battle can be won because we have the power of choice!
I’ve included a longer article on our “Two Selves.”
Lindsay McGrail is a mom and Rock Star grandma who is a writer, CEO of a brand new endeavor, the hello Self! Co. non-profit Guru, TV Commercial Actress, retired Realtor and lover of the outdoors who currently lives in Los Angeles, California, near her family. She is planning a move to Italy very soon. questa è la mia dolce vita!!
The hello Self! Community shares one unifying message,” I am here to fulfill the highest, truest expression of who I am born to be as I awaken, discover, acknowledge, nurture and celebrate the goodness that is my True-Self.” Lindsay McGrail