Lost and Finding Joy

“Feed the good wolf,” they say, “if you want to be happy.” The tale of two wolves suggests that we have two wolves battling inside. The good wolf wants us to grow, explore, achieve, give and live life fully. The bad wolf…well…is the opposite. It wants to stay stagnant, remain in an established comfort zone (even if it’s uncomfortable, at least it’s familiar), and to stay status quo. The problem with staying status quo, is we can’t really be happy there. We were created to grow and progress. There is an upward pull of becoming within each of us that is always present.

We feed both wolves. What matters is which we feed most and how often. There is a power within us that is greater than any condition or circumstance. That part of us has the ability to observe the thoughts we are thinking and to change them.

We know what primary thoughts we’re thinking by the way we feel, because thoughts turn into feelings. If we think sad thoughts long enough, we feel sad. If we think happy thoughts long enough, we feel happy. If we’ve been in a negative pattern for a long time, it’s not a time to judge ourselves. We can reprogram some of our automatic programming this way: First, we notice it (with that greater part of us that can observe our thinking); next we pause the thought pattern, and then we replace it with positive, more empowering thoughts. Do it again–consistently and repeatedly. A new, more life-giving program is eventually installed. We can expedite the process by practicing meditation.

It’s a simple process, but may not feel easy at first. It can become second nature (almost automatic) when we are willing, determined and consistent.

That pull of becoming, the good wolf, is a part of us that may be hidden or masked by events and experiences we’ve had throughout our lives. We have been conditioned to believe we are these human identities that have been established over time. It becomes our Super Ego. Underneath all of that — our identity, our history, the stories we’ve created in our lives — there is a part of you and me that is so much greater. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. In this human experience we get to choose. As we choose to listen to the voice for truth, the part of us that desires to learn, grow, and experience this life to the fullest; things get easier. We begin to live freer, fuller, more expansive lives. We get to be happy.