Wholebeing Institute Mission and Values
About
Wholebeing Institute (WBI) is an educational organization teaching the science of human flourishing. We help people live life to its fullest—spiritually, physically, intellectually, relationally, and emotionally.
Mission
The mission of Wholebeing Institute is to shift humanity towards the better. Through our work, we build regenerative and connected communities where people learn—and then serve forward—the applied science of whole-person well-being, creating a positive contagion across the world for the good of all.
Values
Values ground our actions. We come back to these values when we feel unsure of the direction to take, to savor the actions we’ve already taken that elevate our collective space, and to remind ourselves what this organization stands for.
We expect alumni, and our community as a whole, to live into these values, creating an ecosystem of “Renaissance people” who engage in great and grounded thinking as well as in moral and meaningful action.
The values that build our community at Wholebeing Institute, and what that means in the context of action, are:
Focusing on research-based content. We use science to inform what we teach. The foundation of peer-reviewed research is made accessible to the general public, breaking through the fortress that often envelops the Ivory Tower.
Which means…faculty, staff, and coaches know and use relevant research as the foundation. Personal experience can be built on top of that. For example, a response could be, “The science shows XYZ. What I noticed for myself is ABC. What is your experience of that research?”
Building bridges. Rather than divide and conquer, we seek balance and unity—bringing East and West, cultivating the mind and the body, merging the scientific and the artistic, engaging in deep thinking and deliberate practice, relying on modern technology and ancient wisdom.
Which means…faculty, staff, and coaches recognize the multifaceted nature of the learning, and embrace all aspects of others’ learning styles.
Cultivating the ideal self. We create an environment in which the ideal self—the unique seed that embodies each individual’s potential—is nurtured and cultivated. Each and every person is complete and whole. This self-contained ideal self is nourished by really listening to each other, honoring the contribution of each to the whole, and authentic inquiry.
Which means…faculty, staff, and coaches practice unconditional positive regard for students and clients, looking for the unique seed of potential in each.
Tilling fertile soil. We recognize that the environment in which people interact is a field that must be consciously nourished along with each individual’s ideal self. This fertile soil is sustained and rejuvenated by a focused, common vision that is at the root of action by the community. Vision is our cohesive glue, binding our individual actions into a powerful lever that moves mountains.
Which means…faculty, staff, and coaches work together on behalf of the student/client experience. We are open to ideas to improve the process and the curriculum in service to our shared vision.
Trusting the team. We foster an open, collaborative, psychologically safe environment in which each person contributes their strengths and perspective to a shared commitment and vision. This trust is evident in our clear, constructive communication. We ask questions and challenge one another and ourselves, looking closely and respectfully at each other’s thoughts and ideas.
Which means…faculty, staff, and coaches support one another, creating a leadership community that is robust and nourishing. We are in this together, and speak openly.
Giving ourselves and one another permission to be human. We recognize that life is full of ups and downs, and our path to the full expression of the ideal self is not a straight line. We honor mistakes as learning experiences, and setbacks as part of life, giving others and ourselves the permission to be human.
Which means…we forgive each other, and offer a shoulder when someone feels as though they have made a mistake, helping each other learn, fix the error if possible, and move forward. We have each other’s backs as we serve others.
Dedicating ourselves to continuous learning and improvement. We strive to continually grow and develop with discipline and dedication. We commit to excellence—to the highest within ourselves—taking responsibility for the effective execution of our own work and supporting others in theirs. We seek to constantly learn, ask questions, and improve.
Which means…teachers are always students. Coaches are always coached. And staff are always internal clients.
Allowing the whole. We embrace “the genius of AND,” opening to the natural balance of action and reflection, play and seriousness, steadfastness and flexibility, time at work and time outside it. This receptive stance between opposing forces leads to a long, sustainable, organic view of our work in the world. As an organization, we live the change we want to see in the world.
Which means…teaching, coaching, and supporting serves us as well as others. We are nourishing our own well-being as we help our students and clients do the same. This is fun work, not drudgery.
