I am part cherokee indian...and I have been searching for some of my indian spirituality to help with the panic attacks...and come up with this thought.. its exactly how i feel....


"An old Cherokee was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, "A battle is raging inside me ... it is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego. The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."



The old man fixed the children with a firm stare. "This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."



They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"



The old cherokee replied.." the one you feed"

The old Cherokee replied: "The one you feed."

So, see, I do not know how to stop feeding the thoughts of panic to it.. Know what Im saying?

Joseph,

What a lovely parable. Thanks for sharing it.

You've already taken the first step toward starving that negative wolf and feeding the positive one simply by relating your story. Sometimes the answers to our questions are not readily apparent, but it doesn't mean that they do not exist. We just have not discovered them yet. Keep searching your heritage and your spirituality. Keep working on feeding all of the positive aspects of your life. Visualize them as larger than life. You will find many ways to care for that good wolf and eventually starve the bad one in the process.

Take care,

-Tracy
...the soul's task is to unlearn...Eugenio de Andrade

I will say this traci, its really hard, to keep myself from feeding the negative one. But I must learn to face it, and tell it that I dont fear it anymore on a daily basis, and to tell it , that "I" control it. Hopefully, I can take away its negative atitude and relace it with positive affirmations and thoughts and a way of life.

Hi Joseph,
I have heard that story before and I love it. I know exactly how you are feeling...it's so hard not to feed the negative, it's what we've been doing for a long time. And it will take time to learn to undo that. It's a lot of work, and we feel exhausted, but I believe that if we keep at it, we will triumph.
I am a very visual person, so I'm trying to visualize the panic as a monster, and the less I feed it, the smaller and smaller it gets, until it is not as big and overwhelming. I'll let you know if it works! LOL
Keep at it, that's all we can do.
There is so much we can learn from our Native American ancestors, so much we have lost. Please share more of your heritage, I would love to learn.

ok, I will.. please look at my website.. www.journeywithme.net

Hi Joseph

Beautiful

I went to your website and read about your request for Cherokee info. My Great-grandmother was Cherokee as well but she died when my grandfather was very young so they knew little about her and her family. They did however know her last name and were able to research some info with the Cherokee Nation registry of TN. Do you know if you grandmother was an Eastern Band or Oklahoma Cherokee? There are registries for both. You might want to check out www.tngenweb.org/cherokee or cherokeebyblood.com. Good luck

Beautiful parable Joseph! I have so much respect for the Native American culture although I know very little about it (a shame we in the American society are exposed to so little). I love the connection of your culture to the natural world.

I too have done way too good of a job feeding the negative wolf over the years of my life. Boy it has and I can bet will continue to be a struggle. The good news is if you're here on this particular website it means you are trying to change this negative addicting behavior like the rest of us. Because of this disorder we have I believe we have developed a good case of impatience as well. And with something we have all gotten so good at (negativity) it is going to take time to overcome and change into the person we would like to become. Please be patient (I am saying that more to me than you)!

Good luck on you quest of making positive changes and I look forward to checking out your website and learning more about a culture that has so many good things to offer this world of ours.

simply beautiful

I tried to view your photos, but it would only let me sign in, and view entries. Then I tried to email you, and it said you're not a member. So I'm responding here. I plan to use your parable with my grandson, he's 10, and is also struggling as we all are. But it may be something he can relate to. I love photography, and the Native American culture, and would love to view your photos. Any suggestions? Debbie Methvin.

thank you.. my email address is joseph@jwphotoco.com

thank you

thank you lila

quote:

Originally posted by lilaclady:
simply beautiful

quote:

Originally posted by priddymama:
Hi Joseph

Beautiful

I went to your website and read about your request for Cherokee info. My Great-grandmother was Cherokee as well but she died when my grandfather was very young so they knew little about her and her family. They did however know her last name and were able to research some info with the Cherokee Nation registry of TN. Do you know if you grandmother was an Eastern Band or Oklahoma Cherokee? There are registries for both. You might want to check out www.tngenweb.org/cherokee or cherokeebyblood.com. Good luck

thank you priddy...

Joseph....I don't know if you're still checking for replies. I just "got here" began the program and am kind of exploring places on this site. I love the story (my ancestry also includes Cherokee). I look at it like this: you need to teach yourself first to recognize the negative. I quickly say NO to "fear" I do not accept it as part of me and dismiss it. With practice you CAN boot each negative thought out quickly. (Love casts out fear; my Creator is love; He has not given me a spirit of fear, but of love and peace and sound mind) You have to REPLACE the negative...feed the positive (that means add to the positive...think about and build...make it bigger) I immediately do a conscious stream of positive affirmations of who I am and who I intend to be...I am full of the life my Creator gave me, I have good intentions and aspirations to be true, honest and confident. I have a beautiful home, family, stack of books I can read, a dog that loves me...a favorite tree outside my window... (take a mental walk through your home or life being thankful for all that you've been given)

Don't think about (which feeds) negatives; CHOOSE to pick out (feed) positives: say "I 'choose' joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. I actually talk to the fear/panic....GET OUT; you are not a part of me! The starved wolf will shrink and shrivel because you don't even look at him anymore. I believe our thinking and inner words are far more powerful than we realize. Does this make sense?

yes, i totally agree.....