Go back and get it
Adinkra Symbol
It’s because of a love of learning that I decided to immerse myself in an intensive course to become a coach in 2019. I joined with a lot of preconceptions about what coaching is all about and I must admit, it was only during the course, that I realised and observed first hand what the value of coaching can be. I am very excited to take my coaching journey one step further by founding coach4good.
Growing up with a mother who is a therapist, reflections and discussions about personal development, relationships and family history were a common dinner table matter. It was not just once that my mother brought in her ‘gear’ (read: duplo and playmobil) to analyse the situation and ask critical questions that I wasn’t always prepared for. So, it’s with a little resistance I have to admit how powerful such reflections can be and how useful it can be to stand still, observe yourself from a distance and explore what might be necessary to take a step forward and really make a difference for yourself and others on this planet.
Over 12 years ago now, while living in Ghana, I was introduced to the Adinkra Symbols. One of these symbols stood out for me. It is called Sankofa and is derived from the Akan people of West Africa. It comes from the words “san” (return), “ko” (go), and “fa” (look, seek, and take) and translates as ‘go back and get it’. The symbol reflects that knowing your history is to know yourself. The symbol tells us that you must go back to your roots in order to move forward. It suggests we should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to offer us, so that we can achieve our goals as we move forward.
Sankofa is visualised as a bird that flies forward while looking backward with an egg symbolizing the future. It is sometimes represented as a heart-shape. These two symbols form the basis of the logo used for coach4good and symbolises my perspective on coaching. It is not always necessary to dig very deep, yet reflecting on our past and recent experiences, thoughts and feelings are a very powerful tool to help you understand yourself better, take steps and make the changes you desire for.
The logo for coach4good was designed by Adam Smith.
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