The 5Ms Lotus Coaching Model

A Coaching Model By Mila Ivanova, Transformational Coach, BULGARIA

The 5Ms Lotus Coaching Model – The Symbolism of the Lotus Flower

Just like the lotus we too have the ability to rise from the mud, bloom out of the darkness and radiate into the world. – Thich Nhat Hanh

Many of us go through important transitions at some point in life such as leaving home for the first time to go to university, or to work abroad, choosing a career path, adjusting to life as a new mom, returning to work after parental leave, dealing with the loss of a close relative, among others. During these moments, when we find ourselves at the doorstep, reaching for the handle of the door that will open a whole new chapter in our lives, we may feel hesitant about whether we have made the right decision, or unable to commit to a decision, doubting our ability to trust in ourselves or the universe. In other cases, life seems to have gone well by standard definition, but a person may still feel stuck, unmotivated, and uninspired. There might be this feeling of something missing, without being able to grasp exactly what that might be. The only thing one may acknowledge for sure is that change is needed while continuing to search for more clarity and direction in terms of the future and how it may look.

I work with people who are experiencing some type of transition in their lives, or who feel stuck, to help them reconnect with their life direction through gaining self-awareness so that they can live a life full of joy and authenticity. My model is a conceptual one and it draws on the symbolism of the lotus flower as a metaphor for the coaching journey the client undertakes.

The lotus is an important symbol in many religions across the world. In Buddhism and Hinduism, it is a symbol of purity, of overcoming adversity, and of a connection to the universe’s soul (Barnes, 2003). The lotus submerges in the murky waters of the pond at dawn and reappears again each morning, with its petals clean, untouched by the mud it is rooted in. This is a powerful symbol of how the client can navigate their journey of uncertainty – unwavering in their desired path and transcending life’s challenges.

The lotus is also incredibly resistant – it has survived and thrived on earth since the Ice Age, its seeds can create new plants even after thousands of years and the plant itself can withstand even the harshest of weather conditions – from ice cold water to extreme heat. Moreover, the life span of some species approaches the century mark (McClenaghan, 2022).

Just like the petals of the lotus bloom one by one showing the beautiful center of the flower when in full bloom, so does the model guide the person through five different steps(mindset & motivation, muse, meaning, mindfulness, and mastery), leading to the answers the client has been looking for. The five elements of the model are designed to unlock potential through different techniques and across different spheres, addressing important topics such as the mind, creativity, presence, and connection to the body, before bringing everything learned throughout the journey together and reflecting on progress and next actions. The blossoming of the plant is symbolic of the rebirth of the client as they look at their lives from a new perspective – one that encapsulates the qualities behind the deep symbolism of the lotus – unwavering faith within yourself, revival (reconnecting with one’s true self), will to live, resilience and strength.

The 5Ms Lotus Coaching Model

Mindset & Motivation

Our mindset is a powerful tool that can be used to lift us up or to bring us down. It houses our perceptions, beliefs, and emotions, which in turn influence our behaviors. Thus, the coaching process begins with an exploration of the client’s current mindset and how they perceive the situation they find themselves in. We uncover self-talk patterns, limiting beliefs, and sabotaging behaviors, and work to address these. The second important aspect is about uncovering the client’s true motivation and the importance of the goal for them. A client intake form, as well as coaching tools (i.e. The Wheel of Life, the Self-talk worksheet) and personality tests, can provide a good opportunity to explore the current situation. The idea behind the tools is to encourage the client to learn more about themselves and get into a self-reflective mode in terms of their personality traits and behaviors and how they play out in different life situations.

Muse

Once the motivation, mindset, and context are discussed, a journey of (re)connecting with one’s true self begins. This is a necessary step to be able to envision the desired future. The idea is for the client to open to the possibilities that lie within, exploring true passions, values, and interests. Creativity plays a great role in unlocking a spontaneous, relaxed, open-minded, and imaginative state so that the client can connect to a place of opportunities and know their true desires and strengths. Creativity is facilitated through a visual method for working with the unconscious, based on neuroplasticity principles, and designed to form new neural pathways in the brain. It involves working on a specific topic and drawing freeform lines, or “neuro lines”, designed to switch off the brain and increase spontaneity and resourcefulness. During this step, the client connects with their unconscious and brings forward their true gifts, passions, values, and strengths.

Meaning

Next comes the time to transform the current reality and envision the end destination – how does it look like, how does it feel to be able to get there? The client maps out a vision for themselves based on the inner exploration they have undergone in the previous two steps. What will change in terms of thinking, feeling, or behavioral patterns once the goal is achieved? Through observation, thought-provoking questions, sharing of feedback, and intuitive insights, as well as playing back the client’s words, a sense of greater clarity in terms of what is hidden emerges. The path toward the desired goal becomes bright and welcoming, and new possible steps and actions appear on the horizon.

Mindfulness

The understanding that one is in control of one’s life and can make choices is already here. Now comes the time for the client to choose what is right for them based on the self-awareness they have gathered so far. A plan to move forward is designed and action steps are discussed. Other important elements such as timeframes and the practicality of the plan are also tackled. Mindfulness is used as a tool to help cement the knowledge in practice and carry through with the agreed actions in daily life. Mindfulness techniques aid in nurturing self-acceptance and compassion and in limiting automatic behaviors that can prevent the achievement of the goal.

Mastery

The final step is about mastering the knowledge gained, reflecting on the coaching process and the new learnings, and checking to see that agreed actions are being implemented successfully in real life. This is an opportunity for the client to develop a strong will and make sure that they follow through with what they have committed to doing. Mechanisms for timely review and monitoring of the progress are put in place and potential barriers are also considered, ensuring that support structures are in line with the client’s goal. The role of the coach here is to acknowledge and support the client in their journey, remembering to celebrate even the smallest milestones that are achieved as they are a crucial part of the big puzzle.

The 5Ms Lotus Journey

We start from the mind, use creativity to unlock inner hopes and dreams, envision the future based on reconnecting with the authentic self, put in place practical, actionable steps to reach the end goal, and build a will to follow through and be able to celebrate successes. Going through this journey, the idea is for the client to come out with a sense of clarity about their direction, connection to their strengths and dreams, and the courage and resilience to follow them.

References

Barnes, M. 2003. In the Presence of Mystery: An Introduction of the Story of Human Religiousness. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications.
McClenaghan, L. 2022. The Lotus Flower: Meanings, Images, and Insights