Wellness

I wonder if we'll get to assess our own wellness in the coaching training. I would love that as much as learning how to help others. I mention it not because I'm necessarily worried about my wellness...after all, I did see a dietitian, counselor, and physician while I was in school (and they didn't think too much was amiss). I mention it just because my lifestyle is not one that reflects a super fit person. Just a thin person who knows how to stay thin by eating a certain way and being moderately active. Is that okay? Could I counsel people on their health issues based on the way I live my life? I think it depends on what people want. If someone wanted to gain strength, for example, I wouldn't be the person for them. And that's okay because part of what I've gleaned so far in the intro to this training is that wellness coaches often refer people to personal trainers, etc. But people who seek out wellness coaching are probably seeking it for reasons other than just 'to gain strength.' And that's why I could help them – because I'll be counseling them on other things. Like motivation. And general life stuff.

An alternate scenario that could've played out for me in terms of what kind of work I'd be doing while undergoing the training was teaching group exercise. But when I learned how to teach group exercise last fall, it didn't turn out how I thought. I thought it would've been something I could do well, but not exactly. Again, it's okay by me because I tried it, ya know? And that are other ways people can get exercise besides in a group setting.

I thought someone would have to kill me before I ever decided to do an office job again, like the one I'm going to be doing. But as I started off saying, I don't think it matters THAT much if I'm not super fit and am just thin (which an office job wouldn't really disrupt). It just matters if I know how to be somewhat healthy and if I can help others with that same mission. In fact, now that I've been thinking about it a lot, I've come to wonder if my passion lies more in helping people with their overall happiness and fulfillment / purpose in life? If you have that, won't physical health take care of itself? I'm pretty happy that wellness coaching does incorporate that a little. It does tie together aspects of the body and mind because they are connected. There are several domains of wellness, and it's a term that applies to many things. That's why I feel like I finally found my calling in life. To help people feel as fulfilled as they can. I didn't always feel fulfilled, and in those times, my health suffered a bit. But I think I'm better when I'm doing something productive. That makes sense, doesn't it? And the coaching training will sustain that for me, I think. It'll keep me accountable. It'll help me grow. So yeah, I can't wait.

New job again

So recently my job search strategy expanded to include ones that weren't necessarily related to what I wanted to do but that I could do anyway. For a couple of reasons. One, when you need income, you can't afford to be picky. Two, the jobs I would want would be easier to get once I have my coaching certification, which I don't yet. And since I'm starting the training for it this month, why not have a job that's purposely unrelated so I'll be able to more easily focus on it (the coach training) when I'm home? In other words, a job that will only require my attention when I'm there. Further along this line, I thought something part-time would be ideal. But I got offered something full-time. As an enrollment specialist for a company that sells Medicare Advantage plans. I debated at length about it, but decided to take it because I feel like it's something I could do that wouldn't be too terrible (I don't have to be on the phones too much, it's more dealing with application processing) and my mind wouldn't be dead like at some jobs I've had in the past. I'd actually be busy and using my brain (there's a 2 week training where we have to learn all about Medicare). And the scheduling is nice in that we can come in any time between 7:30 and 9:30 am as long as we put in 8 hours. It's been a while since I worked full-time so I don't know how much of a challenge it'll be for me time-wise with my coach training and sleeping and work-life balance and all that...but I guess I'll see. I just didn't want to pass up the opportunity because who knows how long I would've gone before finding something else? It's true that by the end of my coach training I SHOULD be able to get the job I want that I went back to school for and that will make me happy (helping people be healthy), so it's not like I'll be processing medicare applications forever. But another small part of me is, weirdly enough, looking forward to getting out of the house and being with other people and being productive. Crazy! (Even though I do enjoy sitting around reading all day and am sometimes reluctant to let that go. It's just that there's also the small issue of needing money). Even if I didn't get a job, I'd still be connecting with people and being productive because of the coach training. But oh well. What's happening is happening and I'm ready to roll.