I wrote these words in my notebook last week. What is for you will find you.

Up until 2018, I had no idea there was a board certification for health and wellness coaching. I just knew I was drawn to this field and I loved encouraging individuals and helping them reach their wellness goals. I had 11 years of nutrition knowledge and experience as a registered dietitian, and a deep motivation and passion to empower people in their own health journeys.

The wellness coaching coursework took two years to complete outside of my job. 6am classes on Monday morning. Homework. Lots of reading. Practice groups. I loved every minute of it. Books like The Art of Possibility and others on positive psychology that were already dog-eared on my nightstand were woven throughout the coursework. Topics on motivational interviewing, presence, active listening skills, positive emotions, design thinking. Each week I was learning new skills that added to my toolbox. I noticed how my values of creativity, curiosity and a growth-mindset were natural parts of this field.

I can’t say that I actively searched out coaching. It found me.

Today, after seven weeks, I received my exam results that I passed. I am officially a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach! I am beyond grateful that every morning I wake up and get to do work I love and enjoy, and see individuals thrive and become the best versions of themselves.

I needed the fast-paced acute care clinical nutrition setting to teach me the foundational knowledge of nutrition in disease conditions and how to thrive in a stressful work environment. I needed my retail sales experience to learn how to interface with customers. I needed my teaching experience to learn the soft skills of empathy, reading nonverbal cues and body language. I needed to be a student again to remind myself that we are never done learning and educating ourselves. I needed to work in an environment where I felt my work wasn’t valued to fully appreciate how it feels to do work that matters and makes people better. So keep going. Everything can be used for a bigger purpose, for the bigger picture.

And never give up.

Indeed, what is for you will find you.