the wolves within

As I have stepped deeply into management/leadership this year in a department which required a great amount of change in order to offer excellent patient care and a positive work environment, I have leaned on the power of story telling. It's amazing how people come together around a common story theme, and can really connect to the meaning of the tale... this is a favorite of my staff;

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, 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 grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed


consider; the clinic/hospital/environment in which you work is also the place you are LIVING in... regardless of what you return home to, or what you enjoy after hours. Your words are powerful, in your life, your staff's lives, and your patient's reality.. use them with impeccable caution and create with them the reality you want to live in. It's that easy (and that difficult).