Meaning is a distinct level of cognitive significance that represents how people understand the world around them–literally, the reality they construct in their minds that explains the world they experience. Meaning is the deepest level of this understanding and is distinct from Values, Emotions, and functional or financial benefits:

• Meaning (our sense of reality)
• Values (our sense of identity)
• Emotions
• Value (our sense of what something is “worth,” financial benefits)
• Features (functional benefits)