There’s a story often told in recovery circles, and for good reason. It captures something we all feel but struggle to put into words.
A grandfather tells his grandson:
“Inside every person, there are two wolves. One is light, truth, clarity, peace, and purpose. The other is dark, fear, craving, resentment, and lies.”
The boy asks, “Which one wins?”
The grandfather replies, “The one you feed.”
The Wolves Inside Us
If you’ve tried to quit drinking, or even just questioned your relationship with it, you’ve felt this battle.
One voice pulls you toward freedom, energy, and self-respect.
The other whispers that alcohol helps you cope, connect, or escape.
One moment you’re steady and clear.
The next, you’re bargaining with yourself for a drink you swore you didn’t need.
I remember this cycle well. Some mornings I woke up determined, almost excited about a fresh start. By evening, when stress hit or old routines kicked in, that other voice would slide back in like it had never left.
This tug-of-war isn’t just emotional. It’s wired deep into the brain.
Every time we entertain an old belief about alcohol, we feed the Black Wolf.
What the Wolves Really Mean
The White Wolf isn’t about perfection.
It’s the part of us that craves peace, clarity, and alignment.
The Black Wolf isn’t evil.
It’s the voice of craving, old habits, cultural conditioning, and chemical hooks.
Here's the thing:
Whichever wolf we feed, grows stronger.
Every time we repeat lies like “I need it to relax” or “Just one won’t hurt,” the Black Wolf gains power. But when we challenge those lies and replace them with truth, the White Wolf grows. And so do we.
Starving the Black Wolf
The Black Wolf doesn’t need much.
A single thought. A nostalgic memory. A belief we forget to question.
Think about how it sneaks in:
- You walk past a bar you used to visit, and suddenly your mind drifts.
- A stressful workday ends, and the thought “I deserve a drink” pops up uninvited.
- A social event arrives, and the old belief that alcohol equals connection comes back, almost automatic.
When we’re tired, lonely, or stretched thin, its voice gets louder.
That’s why sobriety isn’t only about avoiding alcohol, it’s about reshaping belief.
It’s about awareness. Refusing to give the Black Wolf a seat at the table.
Psychologists call this mental clash cognitive dissonance.
It’s one of the biggest reasons quitting feels so hard.
But when we commit to starving it with repetition, truth, and support, the cravings weaken. The lies lose their grip. And the wolf grows thin.
Feeding the White Wolf
The White Wolf starts quiet.
But it shows up every time you wake up clear-headed, proud, and steady.
To feed it, you need more than motivation. You need practice.
You strengthen it when you:
- Challenge old beliefs and replace them with truth
- Practice gratitude and forward-thinking
- Remind yourself why you chose this path
- Celebrate clarity, not just abstinence
And the rewards grow quickly. Better mornings. Sharper focus at work. More patience with people you love. A sense of real confidence that doesn’t come from a glass, but from living aligned with who you want to be.
The White Wolf doesn’t grow through willpower. It grows through alignment.
Choosing the Wolf That Wins
This battle isn’t about good versus bad.
It’s about truth versus illusion. Awareness versus autopilot.
You don’t need to fight alcohol every day.
You just need to feed the part of you that no longer wants it.
Because when the White Wolf is strong, the battle ends.
What’s left is peace. Direction.
And the life you were always meant to live.
Sobriety isn’t just about removing alcohol. It’s about discovering what happens when the White Wolf finally gets room to grow. That’s when life starts expanding in energy, in relationships, and in joy.
So the real question isn’t “Can I quit?”
It’s:
Which wolf will I feed today?
— Brent