When I was working on the air at KMPS in Seattle, a dream job considered by some, I was in my 40s and started questioning everything about my life. I saw my number getting higher, which meant I was approaching middle age! I started thinking, “What shall I do when I’m no longer in radio?” A lot of thoughts were swirling through my head. I started getting to the point where I needed to see if I was still marketable in the business world. After all, before radio, that was all I knew.

I saw an ad for a local water company needing someone in the office. All of the job requirements were definitely within my skillset, so I started getting myself actually excited about thinking about landing this job. I visualized myself being there. How perfect it would be! Not far from the house, working a 9 to 5; I set my sights on this job and sent in my letter and resume.

I was in my 40s and started questioning everything about my life.

I was definitely well if not overqualified, so of course, I got called for an interview. I got decked out in my finest professional garb, and off I went to the interview. As I knew I would, I nailed it. I made a point to chat with everyone in the office, oh yes, this would be a perfect fit.

A few days later, I got the call that they wanted to see me for a second interview. It was now between one other person and me. Yes! I knew it. I’ve still got it.

Like the first time, I went back in and had pleasant conversations with all the employees. It was a tiny office, maybe ten employees in the building total. My interview went perfectly well, the job was mine. There was no doubt in my head.

The next day, I saw the water company on caller ID; this was the moment. I answered the phone, and I was told that although they really liked me and I would be a perfect fit, they went with the other candidate.

That did it. I knew it, I was too old to pursue getting a job. They don’t want a senior citizen, they want a young person who will be around for a long time who can grow with the company. What was I thinking? I had this job in the bag. This really started messing with my head.

At this time in my life, I hadn’t yet learned about the power of manifestation. I was convinced that the reason I didn’t get the job was because of my age. I started looking at my life through a new lens. What am I to do now? I’m not getting any younger.

What was I thinking? I had this job in the bag. This really started messing with my head.

After a while, I was able to let the idea go and moved on with my life. I continued to report to the radio station and do the job I’d loved to do for many years. After all, I moved mountains to be on the air in radio. Why was I thinking about getting a full-time job in an office, anyway? If I were hired at the water company, I would have had to wake up early every morning and get ready for work, as well as to make sure my daughter got off to school. I wouldn’t be home until at least 5:30 five nights a week, so the family life as we’d known it for years would definitely suffer. Why did I go after this job? Would I really want that lifestyle? And the answer was an astounding oh hell no!

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined taking such a backward step in my career at this point in my life. When I was in the business world, I’d already been a regional manager and a district manager. Why would I go from the success I achieved already to be an office lady at a water company? This was so not me. Clearly, it was a test for myself just to see if I would get the job. And the thing is, had they offered me the job, I would’ve given it a few seconds of thought, and I would’ve said, “no, thank you!” There was no way I wanted a full-time job in an office at this point in my life.

Not long after this, I was offered my first full-time radio shift in Olympia. That was the dream I’d been waiting for. I was not dreaming about ever working in an office again.

This is the secret to manifesting the life of your dreams. I took it as far as I could go, getting it narrowed down to two candidates, and I was one, which should have boosted my confidence plenty. In my deep down knowing, there was no way I would’ve wanted to give up my career in radio to be an office lady. So the manifestation that came true was, in fact, the only one that I wanted. The biggest part of me, the inner self, was calling the shots all along.

This is the secret to manifesting the life of your dreams.

In my flailing younger years, when I would switch jobs occasionally, every single job I set my radar on, no matter how many candidates were applying for the same position, the job was always mine. Every time back then, the job was what I truly wanted/needed. I didn’t know what I was doing to pull it off every time, but in looking back, I was a pretty fantastic manifester.

When you find yourself overthinking about something you “believe” you want or need in your life, you need to really look at it and ask yourself, “Why do I want this?” Like me, you might be going after something for reasons that aren’t on the path you are supposed to be on. You might be trying to fulfill an immediate need, but you need to be careful because, in the world of manifesting, you always get what you ask for.

The biggest part of me, the inner self, was calling the shots all along.

As human beings, we have our ego, our monkey mind, which directs so much of our behavior every day. When we take the time to listen quietly to that voice within, when we quiet the monkey mind, it is our true inner self giving us the guidance we need to take every step in our life. The only way to access that part of us is, we have to quiet and still the mind.

I did many years of working in offices doing every imaginable office job, which is in no way who I am moving forward in my life. Every step we take should be a step of expansion and growth, and never ever look back.