Congratulations to Iryna Bela on winning third place in the category “Inspiration for All” in the COACHING.UP case competition!
We invite you to explore a transformational story built on the power of small steps.
After emigrating, I spent a long time searching for myself. I wanted to find a profession connected to my previous experience in HR, but one that was more about people. I always thought about employees’ comfort, about how to help them unlock their potential, but I kept hearing in response: “You’re not a labor union; you shouldn't be thinking about people, but about profit.”
But what if there’s another way? What if my care for people isn’t a mistake, but my strength? That’s how I found coaching.
From the very first days, I felt like I had entered a different world. A world where people listen. A world where people understand. A world where what’s inside you truly matters. It was like opening a door to a space of awareness, empathy, and depth. Here, people really heard each other. Here, I wasn’t just learning a profession—I was discovering myself.
I saw my fears, my beliefs, the familiar patterns I had been living by. But most importantly, I realized they could be changed. And our instructors inspired me. They were like vast oceans. Every word they spoke sparked insights. And then, amid all these discoveries, a small dream was born in me. What if one day I, too, could become part of this world? What if my words could ignite light in others?
But my dream stood quietly in the corner, patiently waiting. And I kept moving forward.
Then came the day of my first observed session. I trembled from head to toe, my voice faltered, and everything inside me screamed, “You won’t make it!” It felt like the end of the world. Like I was going to crash before I even had a chance to take flight. But then I heard the feedback. And suddenly, I had wings. My fears retreated. Courage appeared—the courage to try again. I saw it: I could do this, I was succeeding, I was no longer the same person I had been yesterday.
I started practicing through barter sessions with colleagues, conducted my first paid session in a women’s community, and secured a long-term contract with a client. I passed all my assessment sessions, applied for ACC certification, and obtained it. And all of this—within one year.
I thought I was simply learning a new profession. But in reality, I was learning to say “YES” to myself. And then my dream cautiously stepped out from the shadows and asked, “Do you remember me?” I smiled. Now I know how to say “YES.”
I applied for an observer position, passed the interview, completed the test assignments—and next week, I will be helping new students grow their wings. One year. One step at a time. One bold dream.
Could I have believed this a year ago? No.What would I say to myself back then? Say “YES” to yourself. Trust the small steps. Just keep moving forward—and dreams will come true in the most incredible ways.
Author: Iryna Biela, ACC ICF Coach
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