Sometimes it takes awhile to transform a challenge into a blessing - a tragedy into a treasure - a bleak situation into one filled with HOPE.

Before I knew that I was living with undiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder, I had 3 words taped to my computer: Procrastination, Negative Thinking and Disorganization. These were my challenges. I didn't know that I experienced these challenges because I had ADD.

Since 1992 I've been attending silent retreats at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. I was treating my hyperactivity with meditation (mindfulness training) without even knowing it. I just knew that after I spent a week at Spirit Rock, I felt so much calmer and happier, so whenever my schedule and budget would allow it, I scheduled a retreat at SRMC.

An incident during my training to become a life coach was what prompted me to investigate the possibility of having ADD After listening to one of my taped conversations with a client, my supervisor grew impatient with me. She said that I was having difficulties with "self management."

I was sensitive about this issue because all my life I have had problems with "self management." Now it was interfering with my moving forward in my certification program. I knew that I had to investigate this issue.

So I attended a teleconference call with ADD coaches. I listened intently as they discussed working with adults who had ADD. At the end of the call, I asked how to get tested and treated for ADD.

I had a lot at stake. For 18 months I had been in a rigorous training program. I didn't want to miss the opportunity of reaching my goal. I knew working as a life coach would be immensely satisfying.

So I became willing to do whatever it took to finish school and pass my coaching exams. I got tested, diagnosed and treated for Attention Deficit Disorder.

I dealt with the emotional aftermath of the diagnosis after I had passed my exams. I had to face the grief head-on. I had to face the anger at myself, my parents, my teachers, and my employers for not noticing that I had problems with attention and focus. Most importantly I had to forgive myself for not being persistent in seeking an explanation for some of my challenging behaviors.

A few years before I was diagnosed, I had asked my therapist about ADD. She told me to do a search on the Internet and investigate it if I wanted to. Well, I guess it wasn't important enough to do at the time.

Forgiveness is a spiritual practice. Harboring resentment towards others is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. They don't, you do. Resentment is toxic. Don't do it. Forgive yourself and others sooner rather than later.

Little did I know that my diagnosis of ADD was preparing me to work with others with ADHD. Most of the clients who came to me for coaching after I passed my exams and became a Certified Professional Co-Active Life Coach were adults living with untreated, undiagnosed ADD.

Sometimes we have to trust where we are being led. The universe is wise. IT knows better than we do, exactly what we need.