Our Three Pillars
At The Meetinghouse, we are committed to supporting individuals and communities on the journey toward wholeness.
Our offerings are guided by three core pillars:
- Holistic Wellbeing
- Regenerative Practices
- Wise Leadership
These pillars invite us into a dance of being, belonging, and becoming.
Why Three Pillars?
Like the three sides of a triangle, these pillars support and deepen one another. Each pillar is essential, and together they provide a framework for addressing the social, ecological, and spiritual divides we face. When integrated, they create the context for flourishing.
The image illustrates the synergy of these three forces coming together.
Grounded in Theory, Lived in Practice
Everything we do is grounded in theory and supported by practices that promote flourishing.
So, how do we define each of the Three Pillars?
Holistic Wellbeing
We believe the whole leader requires the whole person: body, mind, and soul. We draw on the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) definition of wellbeing as an active process of making choices to live a healthy and fulfilling life. Wellbeing, in our context, is a sustainable state that enables both individuals and communities to thrive.
Our programs are designed to support the eight dimensions of wellbeing as outlined by the NIH:
- Physical: Eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and managing health.
- Emotional: Being aware of your feelings, responding constructively, and practicing gratitude.
- Social: Cultivating healthy relationships and contributing to your community.
- Intellectual: Using your intellect to enrich your life.
- Environmental: Being mindful of your impact on the environment.
- Spiritual: Connecting with your spirituality.
- Occupational: Finding fulfillment and purpose in your work.
- Financial: Managing your money responsibly.
Regenerative Practices
Regenerative practices offer an integrated framework for soil restoration, sustainable economics, and community development that enhances both environmental health and quality of life. At The Meetinghouse, we see regeneration as not only the restoration of soil and ecosystems but also the renewal of human relationships.
Living regeneratively means cultivating a renewed relationship with the earth and the communities we’re part of. Regeneration is the understanding that the cultivation of the soil and the cultivation of community are two sides of the same coin. We draw on the longitudinal research of the Presencing Institute and hands-on restoration efforts in our wetlands, tree conservation, and extension of the pollinator pathway to guide the development of this pillar. A study is in progress that we hope you’ll participate in when it’s ready.
Wise Leadership
Our understanding of Wise Leadership comes from 75 interviews with leaders from local, national, and global spheres. Using the Delphi method, we developed a set of 11 key questions, which were then analyzed to uncover the major themes. The insights we gathered highlight several essential qualities of wise leadership:
- Decision-making: Wisdom helps leaders make thoughtful, well-informed decisions.
- Emotional, Social & Spiritual Intelligence: Effective leadership requires multiple forms of intelligence.
- Humility and Continuous Learning: Wise leaders are open to learning from others and recognize they don’t have all the answers.
- Ethical Leadership: Wisdom guides leaders to act with integrity.
- Mentorship and Development: Wise leaders understand the importance of nurturing and developing others.
In partnership with Poets & Prophets (a learning community committed to the wisdom formation of global change leaders), we use this research to shape our Wisdom Circles, leadership immersions, social action pilgrimages, and online journeys, particularly as we navigate this hinge-point in history.
Who We Are
If you’ve made it this far, you’ll understand that we are deeply committed to research-based practice. We don’t just study— we learn by doing. This means that everything we offer is tested in practice, ensuring that we’re not only addressing immediate needs but also looking at the long-term well-being of individuals, communities, and the environment.
We do this so that you can thrive—both now and in the future.
Come gather, grow, and flourish with us!
