Glossary

A right, advantage, benefit, or freedom available to some people or groups but not to others, often because of social position, identity, status, wealth, power, or access to resources.
A condition of being successful or thriving—where success is defined personally and may include health, purpose, relationships, or security. While prosperity often includes economic well-being, it also reflects whether a person’s basic and psychological needs are being met, allowing them to grow, contribute, and feel fulfilled. Prosperity is not just about financial gain—it’s about having the stability and resources to pursue what matters most, aligned with one’s values and potential.
Any act causing psychological harm, such as belittling, verbal insults, gaslighting, isolation, intimidation, stalking, or defamation, often in intimate or family contexts.
A state of mental and emotional health marked by self-acceptance, strong relationships, personal growth, autonomy, purpose, and the ability to manage life’s challenges. Psychological well-being reflects how individuals experience meaning and satisfaction in their lives—beyond just the absence of distress. Grounded in the work of psychologist Carol Ryff, this model of well-being highlights six core dimensions that support a fulfilling life. It emphasizes self-awareness, resilience, and living with intention—factors that strengthen emotional balance and long-term mental health.
The practice of introspective contemplation on our thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, interactions, and emotions. It involves stepping back from automatic reactions to examine our inner experience with honesty and curiosity. Rooted in both Western psychological traditions and Eastern philosophies such as mindfulness and self-inquiry, reflection emphasizes awareness without judgment. In Eastern traditions, reflection is not simply about analyzing the past but about cultivating presence—observing the self as part of a larger whole, and recognizing how ego, desire, or attachment may influence perception. Whether through journaling, meditation, or dialogue, reflection deepens our understanding, promotes growth, and helps align our actions with our values.
The ability to recover from setbacks, adapt to change, and persist through challenges—rooted in a sense of hope, optimism, and belief in one’s capacity to cope and grow. Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back—it’s about moving forward with perspective, purpose, and inner strength.
The condition of being protected from harm, danger, or risk, encompassing both physical security (freedom from injury or accidents) and psychological assurance (absence of threat or fear).

Physical Safety
This involves tangible protections like safe environments, equipment, or behaviors that prevent accidents, violence, or health hazards, such as wearing seatbelts or following building codes.

Social Safety
In social and psychological contexts, it refers to a felt sense of security, belonging, and trust within relationships or communities, where individuals can express themselves without fear of rejection, exclusion, or harm—key to well-being and reducing stress responses.


A person or group unfairly blamed for problems or negative outcomes, often to deflect attention from the true cause or to protect those in power. Scapegoating can create a false sense of control or unity, but it often causes real harm to those targeted—damaging reputations, relationships, and well-being while distracting from real solutions.
The mental process of focusing on specific information while tuning out distractions—shaping how we think, feel, and act in a given moment. It plays a key role in how we manage stress, make decisions, and respond to our environment.  Under stress, selective attention can lock us into loops of overthinking or worry—causing us to miss important cues, lose situational awareness, and unintentionally reinforce unhelpful behaviors.
The degree to which a person is aware of and reflective about their emotional and behavioral responses. It influences how well someone understands the roots of their stress and responds in different situations. 
A stable and enduring state of inner peace that remains steady even through trials and tribulations. Serenity is more than the absence of stress—it's a deep emotional grounding that supports clarity, acceptance, and calm. Serenity reduces stress by promoting emotional regulation and perspective. It supports mental well-being by helping people stay centered, even when life feels uncertain or challenging.
A pattern where people gradually reset what they see as “normal” based on their current experience, forgetting or never knowing how different things were in the past, so that environmental or social decline (or improvement) is underestimated or goes unnoticed.
A natural and essential process that restores the body and refreshes the brain—supporting memory, mood, focus, and immune function. Quality sleep includes consistent timing, enough total sleep (typically 7–9 hours for adults), and minimal interruptions, allowing the brain to cycle through all necessary stages.  Poor or short sleep—especially when chronic—leads to sleep debt, which can impair thinking, increase stress, disrupt emotional regulation, and reduce overall well-being.
The cumulative effect of consistently getting less sleep than the body needs for optimal functioning. Over time, this shortfall builds up—leading to fatigue, impaired focus, mood changes, and weakened physical and mental health. Sleep debt is the cumulative shortfall—when you regularly get less sleep than your body needs. It can build gradually and sometimes be recovered with improved sleep habits.
A prolonged or severe lack of adequate sleep that disrupts brain function, physical health, and emotional well-being. It reduces the body’s ability to recover, regulate hormones, and clear toxins—leading to cognitive decline, immune dysfunction, and increased risk of chronic diseases. Sleep deprivation is linked to impaired judgment, memory loss, weakened immunity, and elevated risks of stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s, weight gain, and heart disease. It is as dangerous as intoxication when driving or making decisions, and can even reduce the effectiveness of vaccines.
The shared tone and perceived norms of how people interact and treat each other within a group, institution, or society. It reflects levels of respect, inclusion, civility, or hostility in social spaces.  The social climate is shaped by cultural messages, power dynamics , and political discourse—and it can either foster psychological safety or reinforce fear, division, and silence.
The sense of belonging and emotional closeness that comes from feeling seen, valued, and supported in relationships with others—whether in a group, community, or daily interactions.  Social connectedness supports mental and physical well-being, while disconnection or isolation can increase stress, loneliness, and health risks.
An idea, norm, or concept that is created, shaped, and sustained through shared beliefs and social interactions—often accepted as “natural” or “true,” even though it can evolve over time and vary across cultures or generations.  Social constructs can feel fixed, but they are human-made—and can be questioned, redefined, or reshaped as society changes.
A situation where choices that benefit individuals in the short term lead to negative outcomes for the group as a whole—highlighting a conflict between personal interest and collective benefit. Social dilemmas often require cooperation, trust, or shared sacrifice to resolve—especially when systems reward individual gain over collective good.
The manipulation of individuals or groups using psychological tactics that exploit fear and anxiety to achieve specific objectives. This approach often involves creating or amplifying perceived threats or dangers to influence behavior.
A business or organization that uses market-based strategies to address social, environmental, or community challenges—prioritizing positive impact alongside financial sustainability. Social enterprises reinvest profits into their mission, aiming to create lasting change while operating with values-driven purpose.
Grounding daily interactions and choices in a philosophy of life that values compassion, supports the pursuit of one’s potential, and emphasizes contributing to the well-being of community and humanity.

The application of knowledge, skills, methods, and tools to solve problems, create products, or achieve specific goals. It includes both physical objects (like machines, devices, and infrastructure) and processes (such as techniques, systems, and digital applications) that humans develop to improve life, efficiency, or understanding.
To grow, develop, and function at your best—when your basic needs are met and you have opportunities for connection, contribution, and personal growth. Thriving depends on supportive environments as well as inner strengths like resilience, curiosity, and self-belief. Thriving happens when people feel safe, valued, and able to contribute—not just surviving, but moving forward with meaning and momentum.
A mindset that affirms the value of pursuing meaning even in the midst of unavoidable suffering, uncertainty, or loss. Rooted in Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, tragic optimism is not based on the expectation that everything will turn out well, but on the belief that we can choose our response to hardship. It recognizes that meaning may not lie in the suffering itself, but in how we relate to it—with dignity, courage, compassion, or responsibility. 

Tragic optimism honors pain without denying it—revealing our capacity to grow, act with moral clarity, and preserve inner freedom even when life feels unjust or out of our control.  

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." – Viktor Frankl
A state of being calm, quiet, and free from inner agitation or external disturbance. Tranquility reflects a peaceful emotional atmosphere, often marked by stillness in both the environment and the mind.
A political mindset or behavior shaped by deep loyalty to a specific group, party, or identity—often prioritizing group allegiance over shared values, critical thinking, or the common good. Tribal politics reinforces an “us vs. them” dynamic that can polarize communities and reduce openness to diverse perspectives. Tribal politics weakens communication and social well-being by promoting division, discouraging dialogue, and making it harder to build trust across differences.
Unchecked enthusiasm rooted in strong personal belief or commitment to a cause, project, or idea—often held without critical reflection. From a cognitive perspective, unbridled passion can lead to blind spots, such as confirmation bias, rigid thinking, or overconfidence in one's perspective. In occupational or team settings, unbridled passion can unintentionally hinder collaboration, limit openness to feedback, and create friction when individual conviction overshadows collective goals or diverse viewpoints.
The capacity to make sense of experiences by applying concepts, patterns, or frameworks—allowing individuals to organize information meaningfully and deepen their ability to learn, reflect, and grow. Understanding strengthens intellectual well-being by helping us connect ideas to real life, make informed choices, and find meaning in what we learn.
The intentional process of letting go of previously held knowledge, beliefs, or behaviors that no longer serve us—fostering openness to alternative ways of thinking and creating capacity for new understanding, generative learning, and growth. Unlearning is essential for adaptability—it challenges assumptions, expands perspective, and helps us stay responsive in a changing world.
Common words for “ways of thinking” depend a bit on context, but here are the most accurate and widely used options, from general to more specific:
General / Everyday
  • Mindset – a habitual or characteristic way of thinking or viewing the world
  • Perspective – a particular point of view shaped by experience or position
  • Outlook – a general attitude toward life or situations
Cognitive / Psychological
  • Cognitive framework – the mental structure used to interpret information
  • Schema – organized patterns of thought that shape perception and understanding
  • Mental model – an internal representation of how something works
Cultural / Philosophical
  • Worldview – a comprehensive way of interpreting reality, meaning, and values
  • Epistemology – ways of knowing or beliefs about how knowledge is formed
  • Paradigm – a dominant model or pattern of thinking within a field or culture
Social / Structural
  • Ideology – a system of ideas that explains or justifies social, political, or economic arrangements
  • Frame / Framing – how information is presented and interpreted
Slightly more abstract / academic
  • Cognitive orientation
  • Mode of thought
  • Sensemaking – how people construct meaning from information and experience
The worldview is the framework people use to understand reality, shaped by their ways of knowing—the methods they trust to decide what is fact.
A system—often organized through institutions—of shared beliefs and practices that shape culture, identity, and social norms.
A way of viewing the world where resources, success, or well-being are seen as limited, meaning one person’s gain is assumed to come at someone else’s expense—even in situations where mutual benefit is possible.
Exposure to harm or mischance from a hazard, danger, or peril.
Information gathered by noticing something directly with your senses, such as seeing, hearing, touching, smelling, or tasting. Observations can be used as data.
The process of cultural and psychological change that occurs when individuals or groups from different cultures come into continuous contact, involving adjustments in language, values, behaviors, and identity as people adapt to both their heritage culture and the new or dominant culture.

A a state of otherness in which a reality, way of being, or way of knowing remains fundamentally alien to the conscious self or a particular cultural perspective and cannot be fully understood or absorbed within existing frameworks.

An unselfish regard for, or devotion to, the welfare of others, especially when it brings no benefit—or even some cost—to oneself.

A type of loss in which a loved one is gone in some crucial way, but there is no clear ending, answer, or closure. This occurs when someone is physically missing (for example, as a missing person) or when they are physically present but psychologically or emotionally absent (for example, due to dementia, addiction, or severe mental illness).

A condition of social or personal instability that arises when shared norms, values, and rules break down or become unclear, leaving people without clear moral guidance.

A feeling of unease, worry, or apprehension about something with an uncertain or anticipated outcome. It is characterized by emotional tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes such as increased heart rate, muscle tension, and faster breathing. While anxiety can be a normal and adaptive response to stress or perceived danger, it becomes problematic when it is persistent, excessive, or interferes with daily life.


Communicating one’s needs, feelings, boundaries, or opinions clearly, honestly, and respectfully.
A relatively enduring mental stance toward a person, object, group, or issue, expressed as a positive, negative, or neutral evaluation. It is shaped by the interplay of beliefs (what we think is true), feelings (our emotional responses), and action tendencies (how we are inclined to behave), and it guides how we interpret and respond to the world.
The socially recognized right of a person or institution to direct others, make decisions, and expect obedience within a particular role or setting.
A strong emotional response of wonder and deep respect, often mixed with a sense of fear or smallness, that arises in the presence of something vast, powerful, or profoundly beautiful—something that challenges our usual understanding of the world.


A strong, organized reaction against changes that are perceived to threaten existing values, status, or power—most often directed at reforms aimed at greater equality or inclusion.

Obstinate or narrow-minded adherence to one’s own opinions and prejudices, often resulting in intolerance toward differing perspectives or groups.

Practical strategies that support the brain’s natural patterns of attention, learning, memory, and self-regulation, such as breaking tasks into smaller parts, using cues to prime focus, or structuring work to match limits in attention and fatigue.

 






The state of how well your brain works across thinking, sensing, feeling, relating to others, behaving, and moving. It lets you realize your full potential throughout life, irrespective of the presence or absence of disorders.

An occupational phenomenon marked by exhaustion, cynicism or detachment from one’s job, and reduced professional efficacy resulting from chronic, unmanaged workplace stress.

A form of selfless love that expressed through compassion, generosity, kindness, and concern for the well-being of others, grounded in a sense of spiritual connection and shared humanity.


Misleading or sensational online content created to attract clicks, often by exploiting curiosity or emotion.
Online activism that uses low-effort digital actions, such as liking, sharing, signing petitions, or using hashtags, to show support for a cause, often criticized for replacing deeper real-world engagement.
A long-term shift in Earth’s average weather patterns, especially the ongoing rise in global temperatures driven mainly by human activities such as burning fossil fuels, which increase heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.


Differences in how people think, learn, solve problems, reason, and approach ideas, shaped by their brains, backgrounds, experiences, and environments.
The capacity to process information, problem-solve, and reason; to be comfortable with complexity; and awareness of how our thinking patterns and ways of knowing shape our worldview.

A group of people connected by shared place, identity, interests, or values, who interact regularly and feel mutual belonging, support, respect, and care for one another.
The overall quality of life shaped by the social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political conditions that allow individuals and the communities they identify with to feel safe, affirmed, connected, and able to thrive.


To turn something—such as an intrinsic value, relationship, or aspect of well-being—into a commodity that can be bought, sold, or marketed.
A sensitivity to the suffering of self and others, paired with an emotional response and a motivation to help alleviate or prevent it.
A mental representation that organizes similar objects, events, qualities, or experiences into a shared category, supporting thinking, communication, and understanding.

A state of inner peace and satisfaction with one’s current circumstances, characterized by acceptance, gratitude, and emotional stability.

The process of understanding meaning, relationships, and how to apply what you know.

The mind’s ability to bring into existence new ideas, methods, or solutions.

The ways of living, thinking, communicating, and behaving that are treated as normal within a group, workplace, or society.
The ability to understand, communicate with, and interact respectfully and effectively with people from different cultures.

A lifelong practice of self-reflection, openness, and respect that helps people recognize bias, reduce power imbalances, and learn from others’ perspectives.








The dominant stories and perspectives that shape how people understand the world, often influenced by institutions, traditions, sacred texts, elders, media, political rhetoric, the wealthy, or celebrities. 



Basic information, like numbers, words, pictures, measurements, or observations before it has been organized or explained.

A formal conversation where people with different views take turns explaining their side, using reasons and facts to support what they say.
It is not just an argument; the goal is to compare ideas clearly and respond to disagreement in a respectful way.

A political leader who gains power by appealing to popular prejudices and making false claims or promises. In ancient times, the word referred to a leader of the common people.



A common mental health condition that causes persistent sadness or loss of interest in activities, often along with changes in sleep, appetite, energy, and concentration, and can affect daily functioning.
An exchange of ideas and opinions through words, focused on listening, understanding, and shared learning.
The consideration or examination of a question or issue, often through the exchange of ideas or viewpoints.

False or misleading information deliberately created and spread to deceive, manipulate public opinion, or cause harm.
Accepting ideas from authoritative people without questioning them or thinking critically about them..

The habit of spending too much time scrolling through online content that leaves a person feeling worried, angry, or sad.
A mental reaction to a stimulus, subjectively experienced as strong feeling and typically accompanied by physiological and behavioral changes in the body. Rooted in the Latin emovere, "to move out, stir up," reflecting emotion's nature as feeling that moves through and acts upon the body.
(neuroscience) — An unconscious, automatic bodily reaction to a stimulus (e.g., changes in heart rate, muscle tension, or hormone levels) that occurs before any conscious awareness of it.

The ability and capacity to understand and regulate emotional responses to stress, threat, and reward, and to build resilience and a sense of agency, with support when needed.

The ability to understand and feel with someone else — an idea that comes from the German word Einfühlung, meaning “feeling into.”
A disease that is regularly present in a particular place or population at a predictable level.
More than granting authority; it can also mean supporting a person’s growth, confidence, and influence so they can realize their potential and act with greater agency
The surrounding circumstances, conditions, objects, and factors that affect a person’s growth, health, progress, or functioning. It includes natural, physical, and digital surroundings, and may also include the psychological climate in which a person lives or works.
The condition in which physical, natural, and digital environments support health, safety, and a sense of peace.


A rapid or unexpected increase in cases of a disease, health condition, or behavior above what is normally expected in a specific population or place over a given time period.
The principle that people have equal rights and dignity and should be treated fairly without discrimination in law, services, and public life.
Equity means fairness in context — making sure people have what they need to participate, thrive, and be treated justly, especially when circumstances are different.
The study of moral conduct and principles — sometimes called the “science of morals” — that examines what is right, wrong, fair, and good, and how people and institutions should act. In modern use, ethics also refers to the values, standards, or code of conduct that guide decisions and behavior in everyday life.



The study of where words come from, how they developed over time, and how their forms and meanings have changed across languages and over time.

A way of being characterized by an outward focus on the external world, people, activities, and events. Extraverts tend to feel energized by social interaction and engagement with what is happening around them rather than by extended time alone or inward reflection.


A group of people connected by birth, marriage, adoption, legal ties, or enduring bonds of mutual care, commitment, and belonging.

The subjective, first-person quality of an experience; the "what it's like" of being in a given mental or bodily state, whether that state is a physical sensation, an emotion, or an intuitive impression.

(neuroscience) — The conscious, mental representation of an emotion's bodily changes, formed when the brain maps and registers those changes to itself; the subjective awareness of an emotion after the fact.
A state of security and freedom of choice, now and in the future, to meet basic needs, meet financial obligations, and make choices that support a good quality of life. It reflects the full range of financial pressures a person may face, including both present-day stability and future financial resilience.


A way of thinking where someone believes their abilities are set and values accomplishments mainly as proof of how capable they already are.

A state of deep focus and enjoyment where a person becomes fully absorbed in an activity, often losing track of time, when the task's challenge matches their skill level.
Someone who thinks and lives independently, questions inherited beliefs, social norms, and dogma, and remains authentic to themselves.
Someone who forms opinions and beliefs independently, relying on reason, logic, and evidence rather than accepting authority, tradition, dogma, or popular consensus.
(German; literally “feeling of community”): In Adlerian psychology, an inner sense of belonging to the human community and of interconnection with others, expressed through empathy, cooperation, social responsibility, and contribution to the common good. It is often translated as “social interest,” though “feeling of community” more fully conveys Adler’s meaning.digitalcommons.library.uab+1

Artificial intelligence trained on large amounts of text and other data that learns patterns and generates new content, such as text, images, audio, video, or code.
A learning process in which learners actively connect new information with prior knowledge to build deeper understanding.
The free and joyful sharing of time, kindness, compassion, and resources, rooted in gratitude and a sense of abundance.

The appreciation of what is valuable and meaningful to oneself, reflecting a general state of thankfulness for life’s benefits, often recognized as coming from others or from external sources.
The natural physical, emotional, and psychological response to a significant loss, which may be experienced as deep and poignant distress, especially in bereavement.


A way of thinking where someone believes their abilities can be developed over time, and values effort, learning, and challenges as part of becoming better.

A pleasant emotional state of feeling good in the moment, such as joy, pleasure, or contentment. It is typically shaped by current circumstances and experiences, so it may be short-term or fluctuate over time. 
The process by which dominant groups shape culture so their values and norms appear normal, natural, or ​widely accepted.
The capacity to envision a better future, identify possible paths toward it, and sustain the motivation to navigate obstacles or adversity.

Fundamental rights and freedoms that belong to every person, regardless of nationality, race, gender, religion, or any other status. 

The freedom from pride or arrogance and a respectful regard for oneself and others.
Guiding principles or values that represent the highest standards a person or society seeks to live by.
automatic attitudes or stereotypes that operate outside conscious awareness and may influence perceptions, decisions, and behavior.
Communication in which meaning is conveyed indirectly through verbal and nonverbal cues, context, shared assumptions, or what is left unsaid rather than stated plainly.
The persistence of existing habits, systems, and norms that makes adaptation difficult.
An overabundance of information—including false or misleading content—circulating in digital and physical environments during a disease outbreak. It can create confusion, encourage health-risk behaviors, reduce trust in health authorities, and undermine an effective public-health response.

Facts, data, news, or ideas that are communicated, organized, or interpreted in a way that gives them meaning and context and can contribute to understanding.
A state in which the amount, speed, or complexity of information exceeds a person’s ability to effectively process, evaluate, and use it. It can make it harder to focus, understand an issue, remember key details, or make informed decisions.

The ability to understand people, situations, or the underlying nature of something clearly and deeply.
Sound moral character expressed through truthfulness, fairness, and responsible conduct.
The capacity and practice of engaging curiosity, imagination, learning, critical thinking, creativity, and openness to new ideas in ways that support understanding, lifelong learning, growth, and brain health.

The internal drive to do something because it is interesting, enjoyable, or personally meaningful, rather than because of external rewards or pressure. It reflects the satisfaction people get from the activity itself.

The practice of looking inward to examine your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It helps you better understand yourself.

A way of being where a person’s energy and attention naturally flow inward to their inner world. Introverts often feel most alive when reflecting, imagining, or engaging with their own thoughts and feelings, and they are guided more by what is happening inside them than by the outer environment.

A word ending that identifies an organized pattern of thought, belief, practice, condition, style, or behavior associated with a particular idea, person, group, quality, or experience.
The intentional practice of private writing to reflect on thoughts, feelings, and experiences.


An enduring inner sense of peace and contentment, cultivated through love, gratitude, meaning, and spiritual connection, that can persist even in hardship.
Fair and equitable treatment that respects each person’s dignity, rights, and due share in a community.
Literally means “distributing one’s attention or spirit,” and refers to the quiet, intuitive practice of anticipating and meeting others’ unspoken needs. It emphasizes subtle, thoughtful actions that foster harmony and connection without drawing attention to oneself..


The quality and practice of being friendly, considerate, caring, generous, and helpful toward oneself and others.
Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience, study, or association.

The practice of going forward and guiding oneself and others toward a purposeful direction.
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The process through which experience, study, practice, and instruction lead to relatively lasting changes in a person’s knowledge, skills, understanding, attitudes, behaviors, or ability to apply what they know.
The lifestyle or  style of life is the unique, largely unconscious, and relatively consistent pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting that an individual creatively constructs in early childhood, organized around an implicit goal, and used to navigate life’s tasks and compensate for feelings of inferiority.

The idea that a person’s decision makes sense within their immediate context, information, goals, and perspective—even if it seems flawed from a broader viewpoint.
The systematic process of using clear principles of reasoning to evaluate information, connect ideas, and draw conclusions that are valid or well supported by evidence.
An embodied feeling, bond, and chosen practice of connection that recognizes kinship, honors the inherent dignity of self and others, and seeks mutual well-being through care, commitment, respect, and compassion.

 Information that is based on reality but used to inflict harm on a person, organization, or country. 

The process of relegating a person or group to an unimportant or powerless position within a society or group, limiting their meaningful access to opportunities, resources, representation, and decision-making.

A state of mental well-being that supports people in coping with life’s stresses, developing their abilities, engaging in meaningful activities and relationships, and participating in their communities in ways that are available to them.
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A health condition that significantly affects a person’s thinking, mood, emotions, or behavior and may cause distress or difficulty in daily life.
The understanding of human beings, particularly the capacity to recognize or correctly judge a person’s nature, character, and dispositions.



A person’s internal representation of how a system, process, or situation works. Mental models help people interpret information, anticipate what may happen, and decide how to act; they may be incomplete or inaccurate.
The practice of intentionally paying attention to present-moment thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and surroundings with openness and without judgment.

A pattern of beliefs, assumptions, attitudes, or mental habits that shapes how a person interprets situations and influences how they think, feel, and act, including both deliberate and automatic responses.
An incorrect belief, understanding, or explanation that may seem reasonable and can persist despite evidence to the contrary.

Common emotional, psychological, or behavioral difficulties—such as stress, grief, sadness, worry, or mild anxiety—that may arise in response to life circumstances.
False information that is shared without the intent to mislead.
A set of principles, values, and standards used to guide behavior and judge what is right or wrong, good or harmful, and fair or unfair. ​
A psychological process in which people distance themselves from their own moral standards so they can justify, excuse, or carry out harmful or unethical behavior without experiencing the guilt or self-condemnation they might otherwise feel.

Any stimulus or communication that distracts from, overwhelms, distorts, or interferes with a person’s ability to receive, understand, or use information.





A pattern, standard, or model for what people in a group consider usual, proper, or acceptable.

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The opportunity, choice, balance, and energy to engage our time, attention, and talents in meaningful roles and activities that align with our interests and values. In this sense, it is about how we occupy our time at work, home, and community.
  • Opportunity – Access to roles and activities that can be meaningful.
  • Choice – Autonomy to decide how to use your time and talents.
  • Balance – A time-based arrangement of roles and activities that feels sustainable and fair.
  • Energy – The capacity (physical, emotional, cognitive) to engage meaningfully in those roles and activities.

Willing to consider new, different, or opposing ideas, evidence, and perspectives fairly before forming or changing a judgment.

A personality trait that reflects curiosity, imagination, and willingness to explore new ideas and experiences.

A person’s view, judgment, or evaluation about something. It may be informed by facts and evidence, but it remains open to interpretation, disagreement, and revision.
A tendency to interpret actions and events in a favorable way and to expect positive or beneficial outcomes.










Othering is the process of treating people as fundamentally different from a presumed “normal” or dominant group—and using that difference to portray them as less worthy of belonging, credibility, safety, rights, or respect.

An epidemic that spreads across many countries or continents and affects many people.
Excessively or naively optimistic, especially in claiming that everything is for the best despite clear evidence of harm, difficulty, or failure.
A powerful feeling of enthusiasm, love, or commitment toward someone, something, or a meaningful activity, often motivating a person to devote time and energy to it
The right to gather nonviolently with others to express shared views, exchange ideas, celebrate, demonstrate, or advocate for change.
The process by which the brain becomes aware of, organizes, and interprets information from the senses, giving meaning to what a person experiences.

A personality trait marked by the pursuit of flawlessness, the setting of unrealistically high standards, and overly critical evaluation of oneself or others.
The overall condition and functioning of the body. It involves maintaining the body’s natural balance, or homeostasis, so its systems can regulate essentials such as energy, temperature, sleep, hydration, movement, and healing. Physical health supports the ability to do daily activities, manage physical stress, and recover from exertion or illness.
The state of the body, its organs, and the biological processes that support life and function..


The extent to which a person’s body is supported to feel, function, and maintain balance in daily life. It involves having access to nourishing food, water, rest, movement, safe environments, preventive care, treatment, and appropriate, affordable, and culturally responsive health services. Physical well-being also includes the body’s ability to respond and adapt to physical and emotional stress, manage illness or injury, and recover in ways that are individual to each person.


The condition of the Earth’s air, water, land, climate, natural resources, and ecosystems, and the capacity of these systems to support and sustain life—including human health and well-being—in all its forms.


A state in which the opinions, beliefs, or interests of a group or society no longer fall along a continuum but instead cluster at opposing extremes.

The prevailing public mood, attitudes, and conditions surrounding politics and government at a particular time. It influences political debate, policy responses, and what actions appear politically feasible.
A social or political environment in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion, personal belief, or group identity.

A condition in which people do not have enough income, resources, opportunities, or access to essential services to meet their needs, live with dignity, and participate fully in community life.

The capacity of an individual, group, or institution to influence decisions, resources, opportunities, beliefs, or actions. It can be exercised openly through authority or force, collectively through shared action, or indirectly through social norms, institutions, and control of information.
An irrational attitude of hostility toward an individual or group, based on faulty and inflexible generalizations about their membership in that group.

The need, goal, task, or responsibility that should be addressed first because it takes precedence over the alternatives.

The natural right to seek and shape a flourishing life through liberty, personal agency, security, moral development, and participation in society
The condition of existence as it is—independent of individual beliefs or cultural frameworks—yet experienced and interpreted through human perception, language, and ways of knowing.

Recognizing that every person has inherent dignity and deserves to be treated as a person in their own right—not merely as a means to someone else’s goals. It means taking others’ rights, choices, interests, and equal worth seriously in both attitude and action.
The real or perceived responsibilities, priorities, behaviors, and standards associated with the various roles we hold throughout our lives—such as family, community, cultural, or professional roles.



The state in which a person’s various life roles are aligned in a way that supports well-being, integrity, and meaningful participation, without causing chronic conflict or depletion.
Information learned and recalled through memory with little understanding, relying on mechanical repetition or unthinking routine.
The systematic study of the natural world using observation, evidence, and testing to build reliable knowledge about how things work.


The organized patterns of relationships and structures that shape norms, behaviors, and roles within a society, such as family, education, religion, economy, governance, and power dynamics.
A sense of connection, belonging, and emotional support through respectful relationships that feel comfortable, meaningful, and mutually supportive. It reflects the quality of a person’s social connections and the role those relationships play in overall health and well-being,
A state of inner balance and harmony, guided by beliefs and practices that cultivate peace, resilience, compassion, and connection in daily life. It includes living in respectful, meaningful relationships with community, nature, and one’s sense of the sacred, and finding meaning and purpose through one’s values and practices.
The sense that life has meaning, purpose, and connection to something greater than oneself. It involves living in alignment with your values and beliefs, and cultivating inner peace, compassion, and a feeling of belonging to others, community, nature, or the sacred.
The ability to make information and ideas clear and meaningful by connecting them to what you already know. It includes seeing how things relate to each other and working together to find common ground or resolve differences in a fair and respectful way.

A biological preparation that trains the body's natural defenses to build resistance to specific infectious diseases.
The intentional use of physical force or power—threatened or actual—against oneself, another person, or a group or community, that results in, or is likely to result in, injury, death, psychological harm, impaired development, or deprivation.

The perceived quality of one’s life, shaped by culture, circumstances, experiences, and a sense of dignity.

An invasive weed found along roadsides, trails, and fields, recognizable by its flat-topped clusters of small yellow flowers and saw-toothed leaves. The plant contains a clear sap that causes severe skin burns and blisters when exposed to sunlight (phytophotodermatitis).
The ability to discern inner qualities (what is truly valuable, real, or important) and the relationships among them, and to use that understanding to make sound judgments and choices.
A framework informed by a year-long systematic journaling and observation study, designed to explore how the eight dimensions of well-being are interconnected. The model clarifies and defines well-being terminology in a practical, relatable way for everyday life.