Turning Pointe

28 January 2021

I barely caught my breath from a world-turned-topsy-turvy in 2020, when the new year rolled in without much fanfare (and in the midst of a global pandemic!). I found myself uncertain of what’s ahead, and yet certain of my life-calling as a coach. The year 2021 will be a year where I’ll remain steadfast towards the call to engage in coaching conversations that transform lives, one conversation at a time.

As I participate in Coach Shirzad’s Positive Intelligence program, I am grateful for the many opportunities to be still and know God’s hand upon my life. What comes naturally during moments of silence and calm is the opportunity to reflect ….

When I was a little girl, my mother owned a ballet studio in SS2, Petaling Jaya. I used to spend all my weekends working to perfect my ballet technique and strive to reach the highest certifications within the Royal Academy of Dancing institution. The little girl’s dream to become a ballerina stayed throughout my growing years. When given the opportunity to further my education overseas, I selected American colleges that offered ballet as part of their Dance programs. For summer breaks, I applied and received scholarships to study at national ballet schools and Christian ministries.

Dance was my life, and when I danced, I came alive!

Fast forward to 2015, I was informed by my doctor that I had hip osteoarthritis and that I would no longer be able to ski, hike or climb mountains, let alone dance. I ignored the doctor’s orders and continued pushing the limits with extreme sports. Following an ultra-marathon and another marathon held less than six months apart, I experienced deep, lasting pain on my right hip. My body movements slowed to a near halt as I began to limp. My deteriorating physical condition affected every aspect of my life in the next two years.

On the surface, I continued to do extremely well, but underneath it all, I was physically and emotionally a mess. My dreams were shattered at the thought of the dim light at the end of the cripple’s tunnel and future. As with all things, I ignored the undercurrents and pushed myself (and my team) harder to make sure I (we) would never be bypassed or taken advantaged of but that our good works would be recognized. My team and I won numerous awards; however, the constant grind that came from being a super high-achiever left me exhausted and unfulfilled after the celebrations faded and became a distant past.

My breakthrough came in 2018, when I enrolled into an ontological coaching for certification program as part of my development as the Chief Leadership Officer for the organization I served. From get-go, my life began to unravel, and I felt like “an onion being peeled, one layer at a time.” The nine-month journey was filled with pain and progress, both physically and emotionally as my body adjusted to healthy foods that significantly reduced the inflammation in my body. Through physiotherapy, I re-trained my body and learned how to walk again (without the limp). By the end of the journey, I had lost 7 kgs, 5 per cent body fat, and a full layer of visceral/abdominal fat, and gained lots of positive energy, and a lightness towards what life had to offer.

Since then, I’ve remained convinced of the power of coaching and the role I play in support of another’s discovery and growth towards a healthier and fulfilling life.

Today, coaching is my life, and when I coach, I come alive. Together, we generate hope for a brighter future for ourselves and for our nations!