From Buddhists to theoretical physicists , the idea that everything is ultimately connected in an all-encompassing “web of life” has been around for millennia.
Today, ecological well-being, which describes the harmonious relationship between people and their ecological system, has become an increasingly important goal for governmental and nongovernmental organizations worldwide.
A sustainable and healthy environment supports physical and mental health, strengthens social bonds, promotes economic stability, and enhances resilience to environmental challenges. Time spent in nature is linked to improved creativity, focus, happiness, and mental well-being.
Unsurprisingly, innovative strategies focused on ecological and climate-conscious coaching have emerged to support the well-being of both the coaching client and their environment.
Climate Change Coaching
Charly Cox is co-founder of Climate Change Coaches, which works with for-profit companies to transform their work and not-for-profit organizations engaging communities. To date, they have trained over two hundred coaches in climate-conscious methodologies.
Before founding her company, Charly was a leadership coach for ten years, working with business owners, leaders, and social entrepreneurs with a strong sense of purpose.
Then, the birth of her first daughter in 2016 was a“wake-up call” to the planet’s problems and her children’s future.
Charly, as a coach who cares about the well-being, empowerment, and resilience of people, believes that addressing climate change is crucial for the well-being, empowerment, and resilience of people, as it directly impacts human lives.
Calming Climate Anxiety
Charly specializes in addressing climate anxiety, which encompasses feelings of stress, guilt, helplessness, and fear stemming from concerns about climate change. This anxiety affects coaching clients across various backgrounds, influencing both personal well-being and professional performance.
She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging these significant fears people face. She explains that by shifting the scarcity mindset and providing people with coping strategies for overwhelming situations, coaches can help clients achieve clarity, discover their purpose, and align their talents with that purpose.
One way to cement this sense of purpose for clients is through nature connectedness. Described as the strength of one’s bond with nature, it is a key indicator of one’s motivation and behavior toward environmental protection.
Charly acknowledges that, like many others, she often feels a disconnect from nature. To address this, she has made it her mission to reconnect with the natural world, which she believes is essential for maintaining one’s safety, health, and well-being.
Connecting Clients to Nature
Research indicates how coaches like Charly can help their clients create a stronger connection to the natural world. For example, when people interact with nature in public parks, they experience a stronger sense of nature connectedness. Coaches can conduct outdoor sessions to offer clients a safe and guided space to connect with nature in new ways.
But even if outdoor coaching sessions are not possible, coaches can incorporate nature into video calls by having plants in the background, or asking clients to describe the view from their window, or by sharing an image or video of a natural setting.
Outdoor coaching incorporates nature as an integral part of the process, treating it as not just a passive object but a co-facilitator, sharing lessons from the natural world. This approach involves finding meaning by drawing parallels between client experiences and natural phenomena.
Coaches may guide clients in recognizing and utilizing their positive attributes — such as hope, kindness, fairness, curiosity, teamwork, and appreciation of beauty. This can help clients find ways to give back to the planet and make meaningful contributions.
The Future of Ecological Well-Being
The future of ecological well-being is a model of sustainability that regenerates planetary health. “Regeneration” represents a new way of thinking, putting back more than is taken from the world. It also entails rectifying the damage our economic systems have done to our ecosystems and the planet.
As the demand for ecological well-being coaches grows, coaches — being key changemakers — must integrate regenerative principles with coaching philosophies to advance ecological well-being. As a comprehensive framework, regenerative coaching prioritizes global interconnectedness to facilitate transformative systemic change.
Coaches can help clients align their own well-being with the broader social and ecological systems, effectively identifying and influencing patterns, relationships, and dynamics within those systems.
By valuing co-creation and highlighting collaboration and resilience as essential elements of leadership, conscious regenerative leaders purposefully and responsibly drive significant systemic change.
To learn more about how coaching can promote ecological well-being and contribute to a regenerative future, coaches can explore the resources at the ICF Thought Leadership Institute. Learn more about climate-conscious coaching and how coaches can integrate ecological well-being into their coaching practice.
