Good Wolf is a new, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating a better future through understanding and applying neuroscience knowledge to individual lives, relationships and organizations, and public policies.
vision
We envision a world where all people, empowered by their understanding of themselves and each other, work together to support individual thriving and build vibrant communities.
mission
We seek to make accessible what we know about ourselves from neuroscience to support individual growth, strengthened relationships, and thriving communities.
Our brain is our control system, supporting our perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, decisions, and behaviors. To meet the challenges of this critical moment in history, we need to respect and listen to each other, acknowledge a shared reality, and work together with people different from ourselves. But many of us are stuck in tribalistic mindsets more suited to a hunter-gatherer society than to the diverse, interconnected world in which we live.
Neuroscience tells us what is needed for healthy brain development and functioning throughout our lifetimes, and how we can move from fear, anger, and oppositional behaviors toward caring for each other and working together for the common good.
We provide a variety of learning activities, public conversations, and community engagements to promote an understanding and application of knowledge from neuroscience to help individuals empower themselves, strengthen their organizations, and enrich their communities.
our name
Why are we called Good Wolf?
The name “Good Wolf” comes from a story attributed to Indigenous peoples of North America.
An Elder speaks...
“Two wolves live inside each of us – a good wolf and a bad wolf.
The good wolf is kind and compassionate. The bad wolf is warlike and destructive.
Throughout our lives these two wolves inside us are always at war.”
The Elder stops the story, and a young person asks, “Which wolf wins?”
The Elder replies, “The one you feed.”
This story is consistent with what we know about ourselves from neuroscience. We know much about what’s required for people to lead healthy lives, and about what motivates people to embrace their best capacities or their worst tendencies.