A professor asked the class a very interesting question – we have two bulls within, a good one and an evil one, which one is stronger? The class unanimously shouted, ‘The good one’. The professor said no. With a surprised look, they asked him, ‘The evil one?’ Once again, he said no. This left the class confused. After allowing them to sit on the question, the professor answered, ‘the one we feed the most.’
Our life journey is not just the outer struggles and successes that the world can see; it is as much the battle in the inner world which only we know if we are winning or losing. The question is not that we don’t know better, the question is, why do we keep losing even though we want to win?
Awareness is key to our success. If we are not vigilant within, the mind loves taking us away into habits that we need to change and patterns of thinking that pull us down. Awareness is building that inner guidance system that warns us when we see an emotion rising, and it is the same awareness that allows us to steady ourselves, allowing the inner storm to pass without engaging with it. Being aware at every moment strengthens the good bull within.
This idea will not take root unless the idea becomes an ideal. We won’t win just because we understand this. We will only win when we find it in ourselves to be disciplined, committed, and willing to sacrifice short-term temptations and pressures. Making it the goal of our life strengthens the good bull within.
Often, external pressures wear us down, and it is in those moments of weakness, agitation, and tiredness that we give in. The evil bull feeds on our vulnerabilities. When life seems tough and almost impossible to manage, giving gratitude for even the smallest things in place lights a light of hope, faith, and courage that dispels the darkness of our struggle. Gratitude strengthens the good bull within.
And it is not just in tough times that we need to be aware. We can easily get carried away in prosperity, living mindlessly, only to regret it later on. Humility anchors us and strengthens the good bull within.
As we reflect at the end of each day, which bull won the war in us, we will discover that external wars reduce when we start winning the war within.
(Picture – Canadian Rockies)
Brillant ! If one keeps reading these lines and makes the mind aware to feed the good bull with good habits and discipline and gratitude. War within is won!