Coaching meaning

This chapter explores the central role of meaning-making in addressing human distress and outlines how existential wellness coaches can guide clients toward actively creating meaning rather than passively seeking it. The author argues that much suffering arises from perceiving life as purposeless and emphasizes the necessity of intentionally investing in personal meaning. Five common but ineffective approaches to meaninglessness—ignoring the problem, searching externally for meaning, deferring to authority, indulging in unrestrained self-interest, and collapsing into despair—are contrasted with the healthier alternative of passionate meaning-making. The chapter introduces the concept of “meaning investments,” illustrated through personal narratives, to demonstrate how individuals can consciously cultivate experiences of purpose. A five-step framework is presented: deciding to matter, affirming the responsibility to make meaning, identifying life purposes, sustaining intentional focus, and embracing passion as a driving force. Ultimately, the chapter proposes that existential wellness coaches play a pivotal role in helping clients reclaim agency by affirming their freedom and responsibility to create meaning. The message that “you matter” is positioned as both a radical and necessary antidote to despair, offering a pathway toward authenticity, resilience, and purposeful living.