Feed the Good Wolf: Using Gratitude to Improve Relationships
Action Steps to elevate your outlook
Do you know the story of the two wolves?
As the old Cherokee teaching goes...
Inside each of us, there are two wolves constantly at odds.
One wolf is fueled by FEAR—full of anger, envy, regret, jealousy, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, and pride.
The other wolf is rooted in LOVE—embodying joy, peace, hope, patience, humility, kindness, self-control, compassion, and faith.
This battle between fear and love exists in all of us, shaping how we experience the world.
The wolf that thrives is the one we choose to feed.
Gratitude feeds our good wolf.
“Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions. Once expressed, it changes attitude, brightens outlook and broadens our perspective.” ― Germany Kent
Action Steps:
Start a daily gratitude practice (instructions below).
Continue with your meditation practice; you can review the steps HERE.
If you look for the good—you will find it
I once worked for an entrepreneur.
The work was fast-paced, chaotic, and lacked structure.
I didn’t like my boss.
Complaining to my boyfriend and friends was a weekly occurrence.
Every time her name popped up in my messages my body tightened and I allowed myself to soak in frustration.
This cycle continued for months.
Until one day, I decided something had to change—and that something was what I had full control over my attitude.
I started looking for ways to be thankful for my job.
The paycheck.
The location freedom.
The creative input I had.
My list started small, but over time, it grew.
As I looked for the good—more good appeared.
I even got to the point where I genuinely liked my boss.
My dislike was rooted in my insecurity, which I had been projecting onto her.
My relationship with that job transformed completely, nothing about the actual job changed—only my outlook.
Gratitude changes everything.
Ready to get started? Follow the steps below.
Simple Gratitude Practice:
I recommend writing by hand (hand-to-heart connection) in a journal, BUT you can also use the Notes app on your phone.
» Every morning answer the below prompts in your journal.
» Focus on something that happened in the last 24 hours.
I’m grateful for…
This is important to me because…
This is how it makes me feel (name emotion)…
I notice the sensation of this feeling in my (body location)….
It doesn't need to be complicated, just consistent.
If you just got here, hello! I’m so glad you joined! You can listen to THIS podcast and read THIS post to get caught up on the gratitude conversation.
Looking for more support? Apply for Relationship Repair Kit. In this private coaching experience, I'll guide you in unpacking your childhood to understand its impact on your love life, break unhelpful patterns, and develop healthy relationship skills so you can communicate your needs and desires effectively.
I want to hear from you! Do you have a gratitude practice? Let me know below!