Through your various ups and downs in life, you’ll get to meet three types of people. In reality, they are just a mixture of two extremes, evil and good.
The first kind are your critics, some called them naysayers, some call them haters. Stay away from them and don’t become one of them. No matter what you do in this world, they will always resent any amount of good you do, and take every downfall as an opportunity to make you feel worse. Ignorance is their biggest motive.
The second kind are the flip-floppers, these are the opportunists. Depending on the way the wind sails, they respond to you that way. If you have something to offer, something to give, some great success you’ve achieved – these type of people – will become your largest group of friends. And, then, when you hit your downfalls, they will be the first to say, “I always knew, instead of offering a lending hand.” Stay away from them. As they say, life isn’t a popularity contest and quantity in this world will never will match quality.
The third kind is the smallest group of people you will meet, they are your purist. They react to you the same way, during your struggles and your successes. They stand next to you to fight each battle, and celebrate each win with their head held high. While this group may sound the greatest, let me be the first to tell you, the more successful you become, you will only be able to count this group with one hand. Surround and immerse yourself around them. Take criticism and support from them. They have significant will-power that is infectious enough to allow you to overcome any tragedy. Because, tragedy to them is not a reason to be evil, but a reason to show compassion. Love can only be truly felt during these moments. Because, everyone can imitate love during your high points.
There is this old story that talks about the human character that summarizes good and evil.
One evening an old Cherokee Indian told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, ‘My son, the battle is between two ‘wolves’ inside us all. One is Evil. It is 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, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: ‘Which wolf wins?’
The old Cherokee simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’