Combined Hands, Heart, and Head

advocating

standing up for a person, cause, or idea

attending

keeping an eye on someone or something, being ready to give care

caring

applying energy and skill in the service of someone or something

collaborating

working in partnership with others on a significant project

committing

pledging oneself to a person, thing, or course of action

communicating

sending or receiving a message

cooperating

assisting or complying with another toward shared ends

cultivating

fostering, encouraging, and preparing for growth; improving by labor, care, or study; refining

deciding

making a timely choice

defining a problem

setting forth or explaining the essential nature of a difficulty

delegating

entrusting a peer or a subordinate with a task

listening

sustained and attentive hearing

evaluating

determining the success or failure of an effort

imagining solutions

generating ideas that could solve a problem

including

allowing, inviting, and encouraging others to join a group or enterprise

inspiring

spurring to action or uplifting as if by divine force

mentoring

taking responsibility for the growth of another through the sustained sharing of knowledge and wisdom

planning

designing and arranging the component parts of a project

problem-solving

purposefully and skillfully addressing needs to guide a solution to successful completion

protecting

guarding or defending

prototyping

constructing a preliminary explanation, answer, or decision from which improved or modified versions may be developed

providing

meeting a need

sharing

voluntarily giving part of what you have to another

stewarding

managing resources sustainably

amiability

a friendly and pleasant attitude

benevolence

good-will toward all

compassion

caring response to the misfortunes of others

confidence

self-assurance arising from a sense of certainty about the rightness of one’s conduct

continence

self-restraint

courage

determination in the face of pain, risk, grief, fear, defeat, or even death

courtesy

polite behavior toward others

deference

yielding to the skills, judgment, or authority of another person

dependability

trustworthiness; reliability

diligence

careful and persistent effort

discipline

self-control; self-denial; deferring gratification

empathy

feeling the experiences of another as though they were one’s own

enthusiasm

passionate eagerness in any pursuit

faith

trust or confidence

fidelity

loyal and faithful support

flexibility

the ability to adapt to change

forgiveness

pardon of injuries that releases resentment and bitterness; letting go of a grudge

fortitude

the strength to bear misfortune calmly and patiently

generosity

the act of giving more than is necessary or expected

grace

unmerited forgiveness and favor

gratitude

appreciation for what we have been given, especially that we did not deserve or create

grit

resolve in the face of difficulty; firmness of character; indomitable spirit

honesty

telling the truth and dealing fairly with all

honor

holding oneself to the highest code of conduct; contributing to the wellbeing of the community, and thereby deserving respect

integrity

wholeness; moral and ethical consistency; showing the same face to everyone

intimacy

close familiarity or friendship

irony

an attitude that recognizes and accepts the incongruities, complexities, and paradoxes of life

justice

giving each his or her due; fair behavior or treatment

kindness

selfless help of others

magnanimity

greatness of spirit; extreme generosity

modesty

attitude of moderation or humility concerning one’s abilities or strengths

openness

willingness to consider unfamiliar aspects of the world before making a final judgment

optimism

the ability to remain hopeful and resourceful in adversity as well as prosperity

patience

the ability to wait calmly

receptivity

acceptance of something or someone

resilience

the ability to “spring back” into shape after being crushed or pressured; the ability to recover quickly or easily from misfortune or shock; robustness; adaptability

respect

treating people or things as if they merit one’s care

reverence

deep respect

self-awareness

knowledge of one’s own personhood, including character, feelings, motives, desires, and place in the world

sincerity

meaning what one says

sophrosyne [suh FROSS uh nee]

condition in which a person’s reason and drives are in balance, giving each its due and allowing neither to dominate

vivacity

lively and animated participation

spirituality

concern with sacred dimensions of experience

vulnerability

the absence of emotional barriers between the self and others; the endurance of risk for the possibility of love

wisdom

the power to judge rightly in the face of ambiguity (phronesis); seeing the world as it is, not how it seems to be (sophia)

wit

the ability to use one’s reasoning ability quickly, cleverly, and effectively

alienation

the sense of anxiety, isolation, or separation that comes from not feeling at home in one’s world

balance

maintaining a healthy equilibrium by choosing wisely when confronted with conflicting or overlapping responsibilities

belonging

feeling included, even “at home,” because of care received and reciprocated

character

the distinctive personal qualities and habits that direct a person’s decisions and future actions

community

a group of people pursuing a common mission in sustainable ways for the good of all of its members

coordination

the effective inspiration and management of a community’s efforts toward achieving a shared goal

curiosity

a strong desire to know or learn something new

ethics

the study and practice of the repeated behaviors and habits that lead to strong senses of spirit, belonging, and thriving

ethos (pl. ethoi)

the defining spirit of a community as manifested in its beliefs, habits, and aspirations

engagement

full involvement with others in a shared community

eudaimonia

the deep, profound happiness and satisfaction that comes from virtuously moving toward one’s telos throughout life (see telos defined below)

external goods

superficial, transitory rewards that exist in the world of things rather than in the complex emotional and ethical realm of the self

growth mindset

focus on the effort and improvement necessary to overcome challenges rather than on one’s ability or performance at a point in time

internal goods

intangible and enduring rewards derived from the gradual mastery of complex skills and productive, healthy practices

leadership

engaging, serving, and coordinating one’s communities in ethical and sustainable ways so that those communities move toward their goals; the cultivated habit of understanding the world as your world, for which you have the responsibility of proactive care (see responsibility defined below)

narrative goods

the intrinsic rewards of belonging and direction that come when one tells the honest story about where he comes from, where he is, and where he is going

negative capability

the ability to hold conflicting ideas, feelings, and motivations in oneself without forcing a premature judgment or decision among them

responsibility

the understanding that we must own our actions, that we are liable for their consequences, and that we owe reciprocal care to our communities

self definition 1

a self is its web of social roles, through which it cares for and is cared for by its world.

self definition 2

a self is its character, its capacity to be effective, its virtues minus its vices.

service

tending to the needs of people and our world in a way that promotes, preserves, and enhances their thriving

sustainability

creation and preservation of the conditions that allow something to continue existing

synthesizing

creating connections between separate entities in a way that imparts something new and unified

telos

what a being could become if it grew into its fullest self; the as-yet unrealized-trajectory of one’s being

thriving

growing, developing, flourishing; actualizing one’s highest potential

vice

a destructive, unsustainable habit, behavior, or quality that inhibits caring and thriving and that therefore harms its host and his community

virtue

an excellent habit or quality, developed over time, that helps a person to care, to serve, to thrive, and to gain the internal goods that make life purposeful and satisfying