What Do You Choose?
by Miki Saxon
Life is about choices; we make choices every day that affect not only the immediate subject, but also those around us and our future.
Sometimes we don’t even notice the choices we make, but that doesn’t change the size of their effect.
The following is a teaching fable that has been around in various forms for years.
An old man told his grandson about the battle that goes on inside people.
He said, “The battle is between the two animals that live inside us all.
One is Evil—it is made of anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good—it is joy, peace, love, authenticity, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, and compassion.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked, “Which wins the battle?”
The old man replied, “The one you feed.”
It is with your choices, not just the conscious ones, but all of them, that you feed the beasts.
You can never rid yourself of all the traits that comprise either the evil or the good beast, but you can control their size, frequency and intensity.
It’s your choice.
Leadership Turn is ending; its last day is December 29. I’ve enjoyed writing it and our interaction since August 16, 2007 and I hope we can continue at my other blog.
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Image credit: Joe Shlabotnik on flickr
December 18th, 2009 at 1:47 am
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December 20th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
feeding either is part of growth, yet feeding dominantly any of of that made somehow determines who we are, but howabout those people who lives their life in less choices environment, would that determines who they are based on the choices they made?But my salute on those who managed to crystally despite obtacles and hindrances in their way chose to do what is right both in the eyes of God and Humans.
December 21st, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Hi Mace, I think you have choices no matter where you are. Even those in Hitler’s death camps had choice. Some chose to ease their torment by cooperating or betraying other prisoners, while others didn’t; some just endured or died (the last included most of my mother’s relations).
The choice of which to feed has much to do with a person’s MAP and MAP becomes a product of the choices made creating a circle that feeds upon itself.
Thanks for stopping by and adding your thoughts. I hope you’ll continue to participate after 1/29 at http://www.mappingcompanysuccess.com.