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."
We know much about what feeds our Good Wolves. Our brains develop and function in the context of our experiences, shaping who we are and what we do. Our brains keep us alive, demand that we attend to our body's needs, guide us to resources, alert and prepare us to deal with threats, urge us to form relationships and build families, and support our perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, decisions, and behaviors.
The Good Wolf Project continually surveys the neuroscience literature and translates research findings into important, practical insights that can help us understand ourselves and each other.
These insights help people understand their experiences and capabilities - and listen to and learn from each other. Teaching related life skills helps us feed the good parts of ourselves and those around us. We do this in service of human dignity and effective prosocial action.
Results of this work include increased self-awareness, self-regulation, personal well-being, critical thinking, and behaviors leading to healthier relationships, families, and communities.
The Good Wolf Project is neuroscientist-led, supported by an accomplished team bringing expertise in social-emotional learning, digital communications, social media, and writing and editing. A Board of Trustees and Board of Advisors, both of national prominence, provide support and guidance for the work of Good Wolf.