As we approach yet another brand new year, why not let this year be the year you finally and completely allow yourself to be who you are meant to be? What do you have to lose? Let’s honor ourselves in 2018!

Years ago when I was “only” working part-time in Seattle radio, and raising my daughter, I started really thinking and worrying about my age. Part of me began to wonder if perhaps I was to go out and look for a “real” job, I would be passed over for a younger candidate. This started to gnaw at me! With this deep-seated thought growing in my head, I needed validation that I was still young and still desirable.

I found an ad for a nearby water company looking for someone to help in the office. Hell, my résumé covers just about every position imaginable, so I thought to myself, “I am going to go get this job!”

I sent in my résumé, and of course, with my qualifications, I was called for an interview. The day of the interview, I knew I nailed it. Confident, dressed to the nines. I answered everything perfectly. I was completely comfortable and not one bit nervous. I had this job in the bag. It would be my job to refuse. Or so I thought.

I was called in for a second interview a few days later, and as the first time, I knew I had it in the bag. While I was there, I made an effort to talk to every person I saw as they would only hire someone who everyone in the building got along with; it was a small office.

Yeah! They would soon offer me a full-time job with good pay and benefits! Ha! See Cari; you aren’t so old after all! You are still marketable and in-demand in the business world.

When they made the personal call to tell me they loved me, I was well qualified and that everyone liked me, but… unfortunately they went with the other candidate; I was devastated. How could this be? I did everything right!

It wasn’t until much later I figured it out.

Throughout my life, when I needed something to happen, it happened. I would go in for job interviews with such a confidence and air about me that the job was offered to me before I left the building – every time. When I needed to be rescued from a debilitating life that would undoubtedly end in an early death, I asked the universe for a knight in shining armor to save me and get me out of Las Vegas. It happened.

In going in for this job, I used the power of positive thinking. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that this new job – with the water company – would be mine. I crossed all the T’s and dotted all of the I’s. What was the problem?

The thing was, I had progressed throughout my life, from someone barely surviving and doing anything to make my rent, to someone who was a regional manager for half of the country for a merchandising service company! From there, I knew I wanted to be on the air in radio, and I ultimately manifested my entire radio career. What in the hell was I thinking?

I used all the tools I knew and had myself believing that the job was mine. The small fun fact was… I didn’t want to work at a water company! I didn’t want to be part of a small office where I had set hours, water cooler gossip and office politics. No way did I want to take such a huge step back in my life. This tiny little detail kept this “dream” from becoming a reality for me. I am so thrilled that I made sure it didn’t happen!

When we take the time to go inside and get to know ourselves, absent of any influence from those around us, we discover our true self. How will you know when you are living from, and acting from the place that is genuinely your inner voice? The answer is… you’ll know by the way you feel!

I am so thrilled that I made sure it didn’t happen!

When you are in alignment with your true-self, only taking steps to do and be what you truly are meant to, the feeling is something that cannot be described. Everything about you is in agreement. You have no conflicting emotions, nothing anyone says can alter your path; you know everything is exactly as it should be. Everything is in perfect balance with the universe. There is absolutely zero doubt. That is how it feels. It is a giddy and light feeling as you find your path into the vortex.

When we honor ourselves and follow our natural course, when we own the thing that “feels” perfect for us, we are delighted! Believe it or not, being happy and following the path of our true-self is by far the easiest thing we can do. It’s as if we are flowing with the current as opposed to trying to constantly swim upstream.

Why is it then when feeling wonderful is the choice in front of us, and great feelings are so easy to attain, we choose to stay the painful course we are on? It’s because we listen to everyone else and we are doing what they want – or think – we should do! When we do this, we are not honoring ourselves. It truly is as simple as this.

What can you do to start listening to your inner-self? You need to take the time to get to know you! You are a brilliant and radiant soul with a plan and power to get you through this thing called life. With time inside, you will realize you can stop putting out fires and patching holes, and you will allow life to flow the way it was intended. The more time you take inside, the more you will realize what is truly important. You will quickly learn how to let go of the small stuff you fill your life with day in, and day out. You will learn to live and experience life being here now! There is no past to dwell on. There is no future to stress about. Be right here, right now. Let the rest go.

You are a brilliant and radiant soul with a plan and power to get you through this thing called life.

As you are looking to 2018, don’t simply think of a New Year’s Resolution, one little change you’ve thought about making that you will forget six weeks into the new year. Decide to make 2018 the year you allow your life to become what it was intended to be. Decide to take time to go inside and get to know the you deep down that you have been avoiding for all of these years.

I wonder what I would have done if I was offered the job at the water company. I know now and I know I knew then, I would have been settling for something that I definitely didn’t want.

Why do we settle? It’s because we doubt ourselves, our power and our ability to do amazing things. Why not simply go for the big dream? Don’t let anyone tell you your dream cannot be attained. It’s their words that give you the shadow of doubt that will stop your dream from becoming your reality. Don’t let anyone or anything take away your power to live this life to its fullest!

Starting right now, be who you are meant to be in 2018!