Robbie Deans is our most outstanding rugby coach never to coach the All Blacks. His record as coach of the Crusaders stands head and shoulders above the rest with seven Super Rugby Championship titles to his credit. The Crusaders went to the top of the table under his guidance and have stayed there ever since. He left a lasting impression on the culture of that organisation.

One of the stories Robbie uses to ensure his players are well equipped to deal with whatever life throws at them, on and off the field, is the story of the two wolves.

It’s the story of an old Cherokee Indian talking to his grandchildren, and this is the story he told them as they gathered around him in the twilight under the stars one evening. It’s about the battle that goes on inside each of us. Here is the wisdom he passed on to them:

“Children, there is a battle going on inside each one of us and it is like a battle between 2 wolves.
One is Evil. That wolf is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other one is Good. This wolf is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.”
The grandchildren were quiet for a few moments and the one piped up and asked their grandfather, “Which wolf wins?”
The wise old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

With all of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 Pandemic there’s lots of time for those two wolves to be busy fighting each other and it’s over to each of us to take steps to feed the good one. That means:

• Paying attention to all that’s well in the world.
• Always show a positive attitude in your interaction with others.
• Being grateful that we live in a time when science has answers that were not available to combat epidemics in past centuries – think of the Black Plague killing a third of the population.
• Now science provides the means to protect us from the worst.
• Showing that you care for your family, friends, and colleagues. Taking charge of your own self-talk, and coaching those within your circle of influence, is vital to your wellbeing and leadership effectiveness.