Principle 3: Make Meaning Matter

With self-awareness and a commitment to growth in place, we move naturally to the power of purpose. In Principle 3, we’ll explore how making meaning central to our practice deepens the coaching journey for ourselves and our clients.

Principle 3: Make Meaning Matter

Purpose drives everything we do, from our intentions to our actions. In coaching, helping clients find personal significance in their training is central to sustaining their motivation and engagement. When clients connect their efforts to a meaningful purpose, they’re not just going through the motions—they’re invested, body and mind. This principle is about becoming intentional, rooting purpose in real experiences to make every step of the journey relevant and impactful.

The Coaching Room’s Integral Semantic approach goes beyond abstract ideas of purpose. Grounding meaning in reality allows us to create a purpose that isn’t just “felt” but is experienced and embodied. Here, meaning is not a vague ideal but a double entendre: it’s both a mental construct and a tangible experience in the present moment. This grounded approach to meaning helps clients bring clarity and immediacy to their purpose, weaving their goals into their day-to-day reality.

Integral Theory’s Four Quadrants further illuminates the depth of meaning in our lives and practice. Personal purpose has power across all dimensions:

• Individual Interior (Subjective): Purpose starts within, as a deeply felt motivation that shapes clients’ experiences of training and achievement.
• Individual Exterior (Behavioural): Purpose is demonstrated outwardly, driving intentional actions that align with clients’ goals.
• Collective Interior (Cultural): Meaning can resonate within a community, fostering shared values and mutual support, which reinforces motivation.
• Collective Exterior (Systems): Purpose-driven clients tend to navigate systems and structures with greater clarity and focus, knowing each decision aligns with their “why.”

When we cultivate meaning with clients, we guide them to experience their journey with a sense of direction and relevance. By grounding purpose in their present reality, they become intentional in every aspect of their training, feeling a true connection to each action. This connection sustains motivation over time, transforming discipline into a natural expression of what matters most.