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Two FORCES
The parable of the two wolves is often used to describe two opposing forces within us.
When asked which one wins, the answer is simple: the one you feed.
That wisdom still holds.
But within us, the deeper tension isn’t good versus evil.
It’s fear versus purpose.
Inside each of us, two forces stir.
One is Fear.
It craves safety and will do whatever it can to keep you protected—by pleasing, proving, performing, impressing, controlling, or hiding.
Fear is loud. It says: Don’t risk it. Fit in. Stay in control.
It means well—but it confines you.
Because fear doesn’t care about your dreams. It only cares that you’re safe.
The other is Purpose.
It longs to express, contribute, and unfold—even when it’s risky.
Purpose says: Speak. Rise. Create. Become.
When nourished, it doesn’t just strengthen you—others feel it.
And when neglected, it doesn’t scream.
It aches: There’s more.
These two forces—fear and purpose—wrestle quietly, moment by moment.
Which one wins?
The one you feed.
FEAR
PURPOSE
Wants to stay alive
“What must I do to be safe?”
Physiological
Rooted in your nervous system
Inner Alarm
Plays defense
Loud, yells, shrieks
Mortal
Constricts
Felt as safe / unsafe
No conscience — Indifferent to right or wrong
Capable of evil—when purpose is absent and fear dominates
Wants to feel alive
“What am I here to become?”
Spiritual
Rooted in your soul
Inner calling
Plays offense
Subtle, longs, aches
Immortal
Expands
Felt as fulfilled / unfulfilled
Has conscience — discerns right from wrong
Capable of good—when purpose is expressed and leads
Just as the oak lives in the acorn,
your purpose lives in you.
Meet Karen
I’m Karen Whitten—researcher, founder, and author of The 25 Mindsets: Understand Anyone, Even Yourself.
My work is rooted in a simple truth:
People function best when they’re aligned with what innately energizes them—when what they do reflects their principle, channels their passion, and serves their purpose.
When that alignment is present, people are more engaged, more productive, more satisfied—and more fulfilled. They don’t just get through the day; they come alive in it.
I help individuals, teams, and organizations recognize that alignment and translate it into a shared understanding. One of the things people value most about this work is the common language it creates—language for making decisions, navigating tension, and working together more effectively as a team.
Before this work, I spent fourteen years in a successful career at Microsoft. Over time, I felt a pull to explore what drives purpose, passion, engagement, and human performance—especially during periods of change.
Today, I work with leaders and organizations navigating growth and transition, helping them align people with how they naturally create value—so work becomes clearer and systems function at their best.
