What does it really mean to “thrive”? Understood.org’s Expertise and Behavioral Health Innovation team introduces the SPARC model

At Understood, we talk about thriving a lot. We want people who learn and think differently to “thrive.” And most would agree that this sounds like a worthy mission.

But what does “thriving” actually mean? It can sound vague, or out of reach. And how can we measure progress on the path to thriving? It’s so personal. Thriving looks different for every single one of us.

Thriving means growing and succeeding in a way that fits your needs, goals, and values. It takes your individuality into consideration. That includes your physical, psychological, and social development stages, as well as the external circumstances that affect how you manage certain situations. 

This means that thriving isn’t just about “Yes, I am making progress toward thriving” or “No, I am not making progress toward thriving.” Instead, it’s about this: “In this situation, with these resources, I’m making progress toward thriving. In another situation, I might not be.”

Here’s an example: Someone who struggles socially learns a coping strategy and uses it successfully to navigate a social situation at a party. That’s one form of thriving, at that moment, in that situation. But that same strategy may not work at the office.

Other examples of thriving:

• A student with ADHD tries a new strategy to stay organized. It helps them get through the week with less stress.

• An adult with dyslexia advocates for a tool they need at work. Then they’re able to do their job more effectively.

• A parent feels more confident about supporting their child with ADHD after learning something new about their diagnosis.

Thriving isn’t all-or-nothing. It depends on the situation, and it’s always evolving. When you think of it this way, it becomes measurable. 

Thriving is deeply personal. There’s no single path that works for everyone.

But if we want to truly support the 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently, we need a shared way to understand what progress looks like and how to help more people moving forward.

So we built a model that:

• Draws from established research in psychology and behavior change

• Reflects the lived experiences of people with learning and thinking differences

• Focuses on practical, everyday progress — not just abstract ideas

• Is multi-dimensional — because there’s more than one way to thrive

• Articulates how we — and others — can promote meaningful positive change

Our model is called SPARC.

SPARC looks at thriving as five connected parts. Each one is shiftable, meaning you can grow in any of these areas.

S — Self-concept (Who I am) This is how you see yourself based on personal beliefs and responses from others. It’s shaped by years of feedback, both positive and negative.

P — Purpose and meaning (Why it matters) This is your sense of direction. It can be a big goal or something smaller, like feeling that what you do each day has value.

A — Autonomy (What I choose) This is about having agency — making choices that reflect your needs, values, and preferences.

R — Relationships (Who I’m connected to) Thriving doesn’t happen in isolation. Supportive relationships — at home, school, work, or in community — create a sense of belonging and open the door to growth.

C — Capacity (What I can do) Capacity is the capability to achieve, do something well, or be proficient at a task. It includes skills, tools, and confidence — the “I can do this” feeling that makes progress possible.

These five areas aren’t separate. They’re deeply connected.

A shift in one can unlock progress in another. For example:

• Building a skill (capacity) can boost confidence (self-concept)

• Feeling supported (relationships) can make it easier to take action (autonomy)

• Finding meaning (purpose) can motivate continued growth

This creates a cascading effect, where small changes add up to bigger ones over time.

And importantly, thriving isn’t a linear path. People move back and forth across these areas depending on their circumstances. Progress in one part of life doesn’t mean everything is “solved” — and that’s OK.

For too long, people who learn and think differently have had to navigate systems that weren’t built for them. That can lead to missed opportunities, misunderstanding, and stigma. 

Understood uses SPARC to inform resources, tools, and interventions that help people take small, meaningful steps forward and improve their everyday experiences.

The SPARC model gives:

• A shared language for what thriving looks like

• A practical framework for positive change

• A way to measure real progress, not just intentions

When we can define thriving, we can measure it. When we can measure thriving, we can scale it.

And when we can scale it, we can help millions more people move forward, on their own terms.

Interested in learning more about SPARC, or how a thriving model could reshape your program design and evaluation? Want to join us in continuing to get the 70 million people who learn and think differently in the U.S. on a path to thriving?

We'd welcome the conversation. We’re always looking to collaborate and partner with others on our research and beyond. Reach out to our team at evaluation@understood.org to learn more.