Wellbeing is the set of needs and experiences universally required in combination and balance to weather challenges and have health and hope.
Grounded in science and validated by human experience, FFI’s definition of wellbeing highlights how we’re all driven to meet our needs in five domains of wellbeing: connectedness, stability, safety, mattering and relevant resources.
One domain isn’t more important than the other – in fact, they’re interconnected and we’re hardwired to find balance among these five domains. To achieve this balance, we have to make tradeoffs. Tradeoffs are normal, but if we lose more than we gain, our wellbeing can suffer.
Access to external resources like food, shelter, air, water and experiences like rest and movement.
Relationships and belonging with people, nature, places and experiences, including across time.
Rhythms and patterns that help us feel rooted and confident, able to weather change and plan for the future.
The ability to express our core identities without pain, shame, fear or danger, as defined by us.
Feeling significant and that we can make a difference.
The immediate and long-term wellbeing costs of a decision or (in)action.
We’re all driven to meet our needs for wellbeing based on what’s available to us. Context and environment determine access to wellbeing much more than individuals choices and behaviors.
The drive for wellbeing is universal, but access to it isn’t. The racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of oppression baked into the fabric of our country mean that our society is set up to provide access to wellbeing for some, and undermine it for others.
To create durable change, we need to:
