What's in a name…

“And what would you like it to be called?” …. putting a name to your passion seems like a simple task to do. I had completed five years of training while holding down a full-time job, running a house and maintaining a family as a single parent, how hard could it be naming a company.

This was not just a company for me though. I wanted to bring meaning to my experiences. Meaning to my journey and pain. I wanted to convey the depths of my passion for well-being. “Bee-coming, HOPE” was created with a number of key components contributing to the final name and logo.

If we breakdown the name and the logo design of “Bee-coming, HOPE” into smaller components hopefully you will have an insight into the journey of its creation.

The sunflower in the logo….

Did you know that sunflowers are said, by many, to share energy on cloudy and rainy days by facing each other. What a wonderful concept that would be, especially if we as human beings could mimic that idea, sharing each other’s energy until we have sun in our own lives. I adore sunflowers, they are colourful, grow strong and make me smile every time I think of them. I fell in love with the idea that sunflowers are thought to share their energy and knew that my company would also have this ethos at the root of its function. Sharing and caring approaches to our work.

However, sunflowers do not face each other. It is not factually correct. When the sun is shining a young sunflower will turn and face the warm rays from the sun and will use its own energy to move around to follow the sunshine until it sets. As the sun sets in the west the sunflower will then slowly turns its head back to the east during the night and waits for the sun to rise again. The name for this is heliotropism. Then, as a sunflower matures, they stop tracking the sunlight and are simply content to stay and soak up the rays of sunshine from where they are. Initially disappointed with finding this out I realised that our journey in lives is similar. We are young and eager and then as we mature, we find peace and contentment, at least that is the plan.

The Bee….

Without Bees us human beings would struggle to harvest our crops and produce food. These small creatures have a huge responsibility as the pollinators for our crops and flowers. The number of bees is a good indication of the surrounding environmental health. Most bees work together in colonies and create a community. That is why the bee is also a symbol of community and pulling together. The bee therefore felt like the most obvious symbol to use to represent my company. pollenating positive thoughts, feelings, and influencing the germination of greater well-being for clients that I work with. a sunflower would not be a sunflower without a bee and counselling would not be counselling without you and me.

Bee-coming….

The concept of becoming the person we want to be to me suggests a transition or journey that we may experience. it really resonated with me that we are, as human beings, meant to evolve and adapt as our experiences and environment changes. Becoming for me encompasses a state of growing and developing into the best version of ourselves at a point in time and it is befitting of us.

Used as a noun becoming means “the fact of coming into existence”, used as an adjective it means “pleasing or attractive to the eye”, “appropriate, suitable and proper”, and “suitable to the wearer”. so, becoming became a poignant phrase for my company’s name.

HOPE (helping opportunities and possibilities emerge, for self and others)

I have been inspired by many people. I wish I could bring justice to all of them. Some are famous some are less so. My family inspire me every day. My Dad was one of the reasons I got into counselling. My Mum has such strength. My children bring such pride. My relationships have helped shape who I am. One will always be known as my “comfy slippers”.

Maya Angelou often talked about being surrounded by many people that she had met in her life. She is never alone. Berne Brown introduced me to the concept of being vulnerable and Daring Greatly, and Simon Sinek allowed me to explore my “why”. My why, I managed to sum up in one word HOPE. Whenever I am faced with a choice, or a crossroads, or a decision to make I come back to my “why”. HOPE encompasses the very core of my being and my purpose in life. Helping Opportunities and Possibilities Emerge, for self and others. If the choice, crossroads, or decision I must make does not enable an opportunity or a possibility to emerge as a result for myself offer others then it is not aligned with my “why”.

Counselling and well-being services can be an enabler for so many opportunities and possibilities to grow and germinate. Therefore, counselling for me feels like being home, its right. All that I do is now aligned to my why. This brings so much contentment and peace to my world.

The colour scheme….

Some things in life are black and white. They are simple and it is clear what pathway to take. Black and white also evokes memories as I look back on the older photographs. However, a lack of colour can suggest less fortunate times and less variety in our lives. When we are in a dark place just a glimmer of colour can help paint a very different picture. The simplistic use of black and white and then a splash of colour used within our logo and our website is meant to portray that glimmer of HOPE which we want to use to guide and support you, as we walk alongside our clients. I am a very visual person and I believe that we have the capability of thinking from three places. our head, our hearts, and our gut. I genuinely feel that those people who are drawn to our company because of what is in the name are meant to work with us. My head, my heart and my gut know that “Bee-coming, HOPE” encompasses all of me and all of me will work with you as a whole.

That is what is in a name…….