Affirm. Act. Achieve.

A Story to Inspire Your Wildest Dreams

by Colleen Kilpatrick

Six months before I was to graduate from college, I came to a sinking realization: my chosen career path was not for me.

I had pursued an International Relations degree with a dream of making a difference in the public sector, but my hands-on experiences during college left me feeling disillusioned. Despite this daunting awareness, I chose to complete my degree while embarking on a quest to discover a new vision for my future.

During this period of exploration and soulsearching, I came to understand that my enthusiasm for a career in International Relations wasn't rooted in politics or bureaucratic aspirations, but rather in a heartfelt desire to travel the globe and connect with people from all walks of life. Embracing this newfound clarity, I eagerly embarked on the next phase of my journey with a simple, yet powerful affirmation:

I am traveling the world and getting paid for it.

Uncertain of the perfect career match for my dreams - except perhaps that of a flight attendant - I eagerly sent out resumes hoping to find an organization that would align with my revised aspirations.

Although I attended a few interviews and received a couple job offers, none involved travel or truly captured my interest. I graduated with honors, but jobless, and moved back in with my parents.

A month later, with my new affirmation still echoing in my mind but no job in sight, I spent a long weekend visiting my college housemates.

During a reflective early morning walk on campus, I stopped in the student union for a cup of tea and stumbled upon an aged student newspaper. At the back, a headline in the classified section boldly proclaimed:

“Travel the world and get paid for it.”

As I read these words that so perfectly mirrored my affirmation, a thrilling chill ran down my spine—this job felt destined for me.

It was a Saturday, pre-internet, leaving me with no clear action but to continue affirming my dream. Extending my visit, I was determined to be the first person at the career placement center on Monday morning to request an interview and learn more about the opportunity.

Monday morning, I approached the woman at the information desk and made my inquiry. With a dismissive scoff, she informed me that all interview slots had been filled on the very first day the ad appeared, over a week earlier. When I asked about a waitlist, I learned I was number 53 leaving little hope of securing an interview.

I was disappointed, but undeterred. In that moment, a quote I knew well came to mind:

Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

~Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Those words emboldened me.

I was not yet a student of manifesting nor did I understand the power of affirmations, but I was driven by a deep determination to get that job and an unwavering belief that I could. So I got into action.

Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

~Martin Luther King Jr.

From the information desk, I walked directly to the library within the career center where I immersed myself in research about the company, its leaders, clients, and the position of corporate travel director. This research inspired a new idea.

The next day, I called the company headquarters and arranged to interview three managers in the travel department about the position. The knowledge gained from those conversations inspired me to craft an “Executive Summary” that highlighted the three essential skills of a successful travel director and illustrated how I had demonstrated those skills previously. In the final days leading up to the interviews, I carefully prepared an information packet for each interviewer, including my executive summary, cover letter, and resume.

When interview day finally dawned, despite being 53rd on the waitlist, I dressed and prepared as if I had a confirmed appointment. Arriving early, I confidently approached the two company representatives, introduced myself, and candidly explained my situation. As our brief encounter came to a close, I handed each of them a packet and warmly said, "I'll be at home waiting for your call."

Two hours later, the phone rang. On the other end was one of the interviewers offering me a brief 10-minute slot during his lunch hour. What began as a short meeting turned into an intense 45-minute session, with both interviewers firing challenging questions in rapid succession. This rigorous discussion paved the way for further interviews at the company's headquarters, ultimately leading to a thrilling job offer.

To my complete delight, I was now traveling the world and getting paid for it, just as I had envisioned and affirmed.

I later discovered that over 2,000 candidates had been interviewed for just 12 positions. Had I truly grasped those odds from the start, I might have felt daunted by the initial obstacles. However, learning this in hindsight illuminated a powerful truth: boldness indeed has a magical quality that can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Through this experience and many that followed, I have come to understand—and continue to learn—that manifesting our dreams follows a particular process that begins with defining what we desire.

When my efforts to manifest falter, it's usually because I lack clarity about what I want—unlike the vivid clarity I had when aspiring to travel the world and be paid for it. Bob Proctor's insightful words emphasize the importance of this initial first step:

The problem has never been getting what we want; the problem is deciding what we want. The key to knowing what we want lies in our ability to think independently of our circumstances.

~Bob Proctor

When we let our current circumstances dictate our dreams, we limit ourselves to a mindset of scarcity and limitation, perpetuating the very conditions we wish to change. By freeing our thoughts from the confines of our present situation, we unlock a realm of new possibilities and gain a clearer awareness of our true ambitions.

Thinking produces the thoughts. Thoughts produce the feelings. Feelings produce the actions. Actions produce the results.

~Bob Proctor

Remember, your journey is uniquely yours to create. With clarity, courageous actions, and unwavering persistence, watch as your dreams and goals unfold in marvelous and unexpected ways. Trust that boldness indeed carries within it genius, power, and magic.

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.

~Henry David Thoreau

Affirmations work when you do.

~Unknown

Colleen Kilpatrick is the Author of “Eliminate What You Tolerate”, a concise, but mighty book that has earned a 5-star rating on Amazon for helping readers identify and release what no longer serves them and make room for what lights them up. A Wellbeing Mentor, Colleen helps women discover the transformative powers of ancient and modern wisdom and selfcare practices to revitalize body, mind, and spirit naturally. You can contact Colleen at colleen@colleenkilpatrick@icloud.com or 248-762-9828.