Purpose, Practice, and Presence: What I’m Learning About Coaching and Teaching

I didn’t set out to become a life coach.

What I did set out to do was support teachers — including myself — in becoming happier, healthier, and stronger. But along the way, I realized that helping others find purpose, restore energy, and build lives of meaning requires more than just resources and strategies.

It requires practice. It requires presence. And it absolutely requires purpose.

That’s why I enrolled in my first life coach certification course, which is grounded in the Japanese philosophy of Ikigai — the idea of living with purpose and intention. In this post (and those to follow), I’m sharing what I’m learning as I go — not just for myself, but for all the educators who might benefit from the same lessons.

This is learning in public — and you're invited along for the journey.

Lesson 1: Purpose Is Not a Luxury — It’s a Lifeline

The concept of Ikigai (生き甲斐) translates to “reason for being.” It’s made up of four intersecting ideas:

• What you love
• What you’re good at
• What the world needs
• How you contribute with meaning

As a teacher, this framework hit home — in a good way. Because many of us already are working in service of something the world needs. The challenge is reconnecting with the joy and energy that originally brought us here.

And sometimes, rethinking that fourth pillar is key. It’s not just about money or job titles — it’s about recognizing the meaningful ways we contribute and the value those contributions create, both for others and for ourselves.

Lesson 2: Practice Isn’t Perfect — It’s Sacred

Another concept I’ve studied is Keiko (稽古), which means intentional, disciplined practice. In martial arts, keiko is returning to the same movement, day after day, not to perfect it — but to honor it.

That’s teaching, too.

Whether it’s refining a lesson, showing up for students on a tough day, or simply trying again after something flops, educators already embody keiko. We just don’t always name it. But naming it matters — because it transforms routine into ritual.

When we treat our work as practice, we begin to let go of perfectionism. We start measuring success not by how “smooth” things go, but by how often we return with presence and care.

Lesson 3: Presence Changes Everything

One of the first Japanese concepts I encountered in this course was Ichi-go ichi-e (一期一会): “One time, one meeting.” It’s the idea that every moment is unique and unrepeatable.

In the classroom, this might be:

• The way a student’s eyes light up with understanding
• A class joke that lands perfectly and bonds everyone for a second
• A quiet moment that opens into something real

Outside the classroom, it’s morning coffee before the noise begins. A deep breath before your next decision. A hug before drop-off. Nothing dramatic. But everything important.

Presence is how we stay connected — to ourselves, our students, and the bigger picture.

Why I’m Sharing This

These lessons aren’t just coaching tools. They’re life tools. And I believe teachers — the ones carrying so much — deserve access to ideas that help them reconnect with purpose, create space for reflection, and feel strong in the face of challenge.

That’s why I’m sharing what I learn. Not from the mountaintop, but from the middle of the climb.

What’s Next

In the posts to come, I’ll dive deeper into:

• Flow: how to enter it, sustain it, and build your day around it
• The Shokunin mindset: why passion is often built, not found
• Strengths-based reflection tools you can use right now
• The Seven Ikigai Needs and how they guide a purposeful life

Thank you for reading — and for walking this path with me.

Explore more thoughts from my coaching journey here.