How I Found My Way Into Coaching
If someone had told me a few years ago that I would enter the coaching profession to help people navigate their next steps, I probably would have been a little shocked. Back then, I was in a completely different place. My life looked nothing like it does now. But as is often the case, the most meaningful paths start with feeling completely lost, like standing in the middle of a thick forest, unsure which way leads home.
My coaching journey began most unexpectedly, through one of the hardest seasons of my life. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I was living abroad in the Czech Republic. The world shut down, and so did many of the connections I had worked hard to build. Being far from family, unable to gather in community, and navigating everything alone hit me harder than I had expected.
What followed was an intense period of loneliness, isolation, and eventually, depression. Some days, I was fully dressed and ready to go out, but I couldn’t bring myself to step outside. I felt stuck. Not just emotionally, but mentally and spiritually, I felt trapped in a deep black hole with no idea how to climb out.
At some point, I realized something had to change. I didn’t want to feel this way anymore. I wanted to try something, anything that felt safe, helpful, and might offer a path forward. During this season, multiple things happened, but the turning point was when I found direction from being introduced to a coach.
From the very first session, something shifted. Having someone genuinely listen, understand where I was coming from, and gently guide me toward clarity. It was like opening a door I didn’t even know existed. And the real magic happened between the first and second sessions as I reflected on what mattered most to me: connection, community, people, and relationships. I realized: This is what I want to do. I want to help people find their next step forward.
This realization set me on a completely new path.
I was introduced to a colleague of my coach who had completed the Erickson International coaching program. After checking it out, I decided to dive in. What started as an idea of doing online training quickly shifted when I found out about an in-person course in Amsterdam. I signed up for the Essentials course and began the journey.
It was a learning curve, for sure. A new profession, new tools, a new way of thinking. But it also felt right. From the first day of the course, when the coordinator described what we’d be learning and what coaching is, I had that gut feeling: I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.
Coaching, for me, has become more than a career. It’s an extension of my core values: community, connection, and relationship. These are things I believe so many people are searching for, and it’s an honor to create space where others feel seen and supported as they work toward clarity and change.
I’m especially drawn to helping people who are in life transitions, whether it’s starting a new career, moving abroad, or simply feeling stuck and unsure about what’s the next step. I’ve walked that road myself, from working in farming, to sales, to construction, to English teaching, and now to coaching. I understand what it’s like to feel hopeless, unsure, or when you can’t move forward, but also you can’t go backwards. I also know the joy of discovering something that feels purposeful and fulfilling.
And after years of living abroad, I get the complexity of adjusting to a new culture, navigating a foreign language, figuring out government systems, and trying to build a new life from scratch.
What I love most about coaching is meeting each client where they’re at. Everyone has a story. Everyone wants to move forward in some way. And when a client has that “aha” moment, when something clicks and becomes crystal clear, that’s the highlight. That’s the magic.
So, if you’re reading this and feeling stuck, lost, or unsure of your next step, I want you to know two things:
You are not alone. And there is a way forward.
It might feel scary, but taking that first small step in any direction can create the momentum for what comes next. And you don’t have to do it alone.
Call to Action:
Are you feeling stuck or uncertain about your next step? Whether you’re navigating a major life transition, struggling with a career change, or simply unsure about the future, coaching can help guide you toward clarity and purpose. Let’s work together to unlock your potential, overcome obstacles, and create a roadmap for the future you desire.
Book a free consultation today to start your journey from feeling stuck to moving forward with confidence. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. I’m here to help.
Questions to Reflect On:
- What’s holding you back from taking the first step toward change?
- When was the last time you felt truly excited about a new direction in your life?
- How would it feel to have someone by your side, helping you navigate your challenges?
- What would it look like if you embraced the possibility of change?
- What small action could you take today that would create momentum for your future?