Finding meaning and purpose in community

You may have seen a version of the Ikigai model if you’ve spent any time understanding your purpose or supporting others to do just that.

It has four overlapping circles: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, what you can be paid for.

In this model, the sweet spot where all four meet is your Ikigai, your ‘reason for being’ or your ‘purpose and meaning’. It’s a neat, western approach and a great starting point for a conversation.

Ikigai began life differently however, and has morphed into the model we see today. I don’t think it really ever included ‘what you can be paid for’ and wasn’t intended as a root to revealing a single, clear answer sitting at the intersection of everything.

The original idea was simpler and a lot smaller. It was about appreciating the first cup of tea in the morning or tending to a wildlife garden. And crucially, it wasn’t intended to be explored solely at an individual level.

In Okinawa, where much of the research on Ikigai and longevity comes from (you may be familiar with the idea of Blue Zones), people belong to moai, small groups of friends who commit to each other for life, meeting regularly to share news, offer support and show up for each other. Purpose is something you’re held in by others and tested against real relationships, renewed through showing up again and again for people in your community.

So while a coaching conversation using the westernised Ikigai can be a brilliant starting point for reflection and lifting the lid on what’s important, the missing element is about finding connection and accountability in the community around you.

In the Ikigai resource I’ve put together, I’ve included a few questions which spark reflection on connection and community as a place where, in dialogue with people we know, like and trust, we can explore similar questions together and discover new ones, recognising that meaning and purpose are both held in relation.

The Consciously Connected Coaching Collective is a community for coaches who want to keep learning, growing and feeling genuinely connected to others who do this work. It’s a place to share ideas, try things out, celebrate what’s going well and pick up new tools and perspectives along the way. There’s accountability and trust, showing up for each other and offering friendship and connection.

As we may all have experienced at some point, coaching can be a lonely profession. Most of us spend a lot of time working alone between sessions, wondering if we’re getting it right, with no one nearby to bounce an idea off or offer support. The Collective is here as the counter to that. It’s somewhere to feel part of a community which is bigger than your own practice, surrounded by people who understand exactly what this work involves.

Is this for you?

• You’re newly qualified and want a supportive space to grow your confidence, ask questions without feeling silly and meet other coaches who remember what it felt like to be starting out.
• You’re an experienced independent coach looking for fresh ideas, regular CPD and a sounding board that understands the realities of running your own practice.
• You work in health, social care or the public sector or have a values-drive approach and want practical tools, peer support, and a space to recharge alongside people who get the pressures of your world.

Wherever you’re starting from, you’re welcome here! Some members come to every session, others take in the recordings for a few months before popping along to say hello; both of those are completely fine. There’s no pressure to perform and show up in person each time, and there’s no expectation that you’ll already know everyone.

Get in touch if you’d like to join us for a taster session or JOIN HERE.