Meaning and
Purpose
©2025 — Schizophrenia Society of Canada
PARTICIPANT PRESENTATION
Today we will talk about:
Let’s briefly review our participation guidelines and what�to do if something triggers us in this module.
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Today’s Topic:�Meaning
Reflecting�on meaning.
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Let’s talk about�this art piece.
Artwork Title: Hummingbird
Artist: Greg Hodge
What is meaning?
Meaning has a lot to do with core values.�
Every core value guides our meaning�and our actions.
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Core values
Love
Family
(chosen or biological)
Courage
Peace
Kindness
Curiosity
Resilience
Compassion
Meaning is the sense�we make of our lives.”
The Recovery College. (Greenwich)/Bridge 86 Ltd 2020.�CHIME Workbooks, Meaning Workbook (2021/06/4)
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What is purpose?
Purpose is the specific way that our actions express what is meaningful in our lives.�
You can have more than one purpose in life and your purpose may change at different points in your life!
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Identifying core values.
EXERCISE
Let’s take some time to fill in our core values in our workbooks.
Think about at least one core value that you think you could work with/build a goal.�
What would the goal be?
How would you accomplish that goal?
What part of accomplishing this goal would be meaningful?
The importance of meaning�and purpose to my recovery.
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Recovery can feel like starting over when it comes to basic�things like why we wake up in the morning.”1
Having a purpose is good for you, your community, and the world. It drives you to make positive contributions in line with your own interests and strengths. This pursuit gives your life direction and forward momentum. It motivates and guides �your goals and daily activities.”2
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1. Kimberly Nelson & Emma Lovejoy, with Becky Shipkosky, How to Cultivate Purpose in Mental Health Recovery, Psychology Today February 5, 2024
2. The Recovery College (Greenwich)/Bridge 86 Ltd 2020. CHIME Workbooks, Meaning Workbook, � www.therecoveryplace.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/4.-Meaning-Workbook.pdf
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What is important to you?
EXERCISE
What’s most important to you in life and why do you care�about those things?
What are some things you really enjoy doing or have enjoyed doing in the past and why do you think you enjoyed doing them?
What do you care about in your community?
Let's watch a�video about finding meaning.
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10 minute break.
How can I build/rebuild meaning in my life?
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Continue to reflect on what is important to you and what you care about most.
Acknowledge your strengths.
Explore ways to live your purpose.
Acknowledge the power of daily accomplishments.
Let's watch a personal
recovery story video about meaning.
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Created by: Schizophrenia Society of Canada, ColCon Productions
Video link: player.vimeo.com/video/1063648429
Discussion: How did hearing Anita’s story make you feel? What inspired you about Anita’s story? How does this story fit with your experience?
Wrap up and “what did I get�from this module?”
Closing reflections?
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Reminder to take some time to explore the ways that you can create/find/build meaning and purpose in your life, continuing to reflect on your core values and what is important to you.
Questions?
Thank you for participating�in this module.
Please fill in an evaluation at the end of each module!
Your facilitator will provide you with an evaluation form at the end of each�module, or send one to you electronically following each module.
The Schizophrenia Society of Canada would like to acknowledge and thank the Your Personal Recovery Journey Advisory Committee for their meaningful and thoughtful co-creation of the ideas and information contained in these workbooks. An abundance of gratitude to committee members Greg Hodge, Katrina Tinman-Dubois, Allison Dunning, Cam Webster, Maria Alvarez, Joe Veres, Leif Harris, and Ernie Bart for the time, effort, and heart that they put into this important project. Special thanks to Greg and Katrina for their additional direction as a sub-committee as well. And many, many thanks to Fran Schellenberg, who has been a leader of leaders in the mental health movement in Manitoba for over 25 years, for her visionary leadership on this project, under the always capable and caring guidance of Dr. Chris Summerville, CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and who has been involved in the schizophrenia recovery movement for over 30 years.
The Schizophrenia Society of Canada would also like to acknowledge the important work of the Recovery Research Team in developing the CHIME Framework, on which this program is based. Special thanks to Dr. Mike Slade for his expertise and passion which has guided us all in the vision of recovery in significant and meaningful ways. (https://www.researchintorecovery.com), first published in: Leamy M, Bird V, Le Boutillier C, Williams J, Slade M (2011) Conceptual framework for personal recovery in mental health: systematic review and narrative synthesis, British Journal of Psychiatry, 199, 445-452.