Coaching for Change: How I Reclaimed My Ambition Through Disability
Coaching for change has given me a fresh lens to see what’s possible beyond pain and limitation.
When you’re hit with a life-altering diagnosis or chronic condition, people assume your ambition fades with your physical ability. Mine didn’t. In fact, it became louder. Thanks to coaching, I’ve learned how to channel pain, frustration, and self-doubt into purpose—and how to stop apologising for still wanting more.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re expected to scale back your life because of your health, this is your invitation to flip the script.
Living with Limitations – and Refusing to Shrink
A few years ago, I went from physically fit and independent to struggling with tasks as basic as getting dressed. The pain was unpredictable. So were the side effects. What stayed consistent was the pressure to act normal—to reassure everyone else that I was fine, even when I wasn’t.
Behind every “I’m okay” was a staircase I feared, a workday I dreaded, or a team-building exercise that made me feel like an afterthought.
But here’s the twist: I never lost my drive. I lost convenience, not conviction.
“I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams.” — Oprah Winfrey
Coaching Didn’t Fix Me. It Helped Me Stop Hiding.
Through coaching, I stopped framing my disability as a weakness to overcome and started treating it as a reality to work with. I began setting boundaries. Owning my story. Refusing to let ableist expectations erode my self-worth.
Let’s be clear: coaching didn’t eliminate discrimination, rude managers, or painful side effects. It helped me handle them on my terms.
And that’s a powerful shift.
Acceptance Isn’t Surrender. It’s Strategy.
Here’s a harsh truth: before you can adapt, you have to grieve. You’ve lost a version of yourself that was, frankly, easier to live in. Pretending that nothing’s changed only prolongs the pain.
Acceptance doesn’t mean giving up—it means giving yourself permission to move forward. With new goals. New ways of working. And new definitions of what success looks like.
“Simply because you’re having a difficult day doesn’t mean you’re not brave. You’re still here. That’s courage.”
What I’d Tell You – If You’re Living This Too
If you’re dealing with health challenges, disability, or chronic limitations, here’s what I wish someone had told me:
- You don’t have to earn rest.
- It’s okay to be angry, but don’t unpack and live there.
- Let go of who you were. Build from who you are now.
- Other people’s opinions are not prescriptions.
- You are still capable. Still ambitious. Still allowed to want more.
“I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan
How Coaching for Change Can Help You Rebuild
Coaching can’t cure your condition. But it can change your relationship with it. It helps you tap into your own resilience, recalibrate your career path, and reframe what’s possible—on your terms.
Whether you’re re-entering the workforce, starting a business, or simply learning to live differently, coaching equips you with the tools to show up powerfully.
Want to take the first step?
Try these free resources:
Or…
👉 Book a free 15-minute clarity call and let’s explore how coaching could support your next chapter.
Final Thought: You Don’t Have a Best Before Date
You are not expired. You’re evolving.
If you’re ready to stop asking for permission and start designing a life that fits your new reality, I’m here.
