062: Feeding the Right Wolf: Lessons from Karate Kid, Old and New

I just watched the newest Karate Kid: Legends, and it instantly transported me back to my childhood.

I couldn’t help but remember when the original Karate Kid came out. Daniel LaRusso moved to Reseda, California, from Newark, New Jersey, while I only switched to the next district.

But to my eight-year-old self, it felt like moving across the country. I connected deeply with Daniel’s experience as “the new kid” trying to find his place.

I also vividly remember sitting by the pool in June 1986, listening to the older kids rave about The Karate Kid II, especially the opening parking lot scene that picked up right after the All Valley Tournament.

But, while everyone else focused on the fight scenes, I was captivated by something else entirely: the wisdom of Mr. Miyagi.

Lessons That Stick

Decades later, those lessons continue to resonate. They’ve even been reinforced by the Cobra Kai series, which explores the complexity of choices, growth, and redemption.

In Season 4, Terry Silver says to Daniel:

"You just don’t want to admit you’ve always had a little Cobra Kai in you."

That line struck me because it echoes the Cherokee parable of the two wolves battling inside us:
One fueled by anger and ego, the other by kindness and courage.

The wolf that wins?
The one you feed.

The Daily Battle

Even now, as someone who strives to live by my core values, I feel those battles. There are days when ego, resentment, or frustration try to take the lead.

That’s why I’m grateful for my “Mr. Miyagis.”
These are friends who lovingly call me back to myself. They’re the ones who ask:

• Is this in line with your core values?
• Is this really where you want to put your energy?
• What might be the unintended consequences?
  

Their care and honesty help me choose the right wolf.

Who Helps You Choose?

As a child, I never thought about the connection between emotions, actions, and the ripple effects they create. 

As an adult, I see it clearly: every day, we face the choice of which wolf to feed.

💭 Who shows up for you when you’re about to feed the wrong wolf?
💭 And how do you show up for others when they need that same reminder?