The human mind has evolved over millions of years to survive in conditions of scarcity. In recent decades however, as a result of technological developments, the environment, political and social, has changed significantly. We are inundated with information, with access to material goods and to hyper-stimulation. The effect has been to overwhelm the delicate balances in the brain's decision-making areas as we struggle to make sense of everything. Resilience to cope with the changes is low. There is an increase in the perception of, or ‘feelings’ of, insecurity and fear. This is manifesting at the personal level with chronic stress and addictions, at societal level with a breakdown of hierarchies and institutions and at an international level with more sophisticated serious organised crime and the growth of religious extremism. A model of education based on an understanding of the human being as a whole person, physical, mental, moral and relational is required to help us adapt to the changes. The model would include lessons on how we actually learn; how the reward circuitry (temptation centre) of the brain operates and how imbalances reflect moral choice; conflict management skills based on integrative complexity; applied psychological skills that are compatible with spiritual practices and which strengthen mental resilience, ethical behaviour, promote creativity and social engagement. With such a model of education, peace, cooperation and security at both the individual and community levels could be enhanced. Research into these proven techniques for wider scale application is required.