A Year For Making Decisions Based on My Highest Self

*Editor’s Note: I wrote this post at the beginning of 2025 but never shared it. Reading it again now, so much of it still resonates that I felt called to publish it after all, in case it speaks to where you are on your own path. Looking back, 2025 was a heavy year in many ways. Revisiting these words a year later has been both grounding and revealing. As I move into 2026, I sense a shift, perhaps focusing less on defining myself, and more on connection, conversation, and community. 

Leaning into my highest self

As I reflect on the years gone by, I can’t help but notice how much I’ve been influenced by external pressures, fear, and outdated beliefs. Whether it was making choices out of comfort, meeting other people's expectations, or simply reacting to life’s challenges, I often found myself stuck in a cycle of decision-making that didn’t always serve my true self. But this year feels different.

[2026] is the year I’ve decided to break free from those patterns and begin making decisions based on my highest self—the version of me that is aligned with my core values, authentic desires, and long-term goals. If one is spiritual, perhaps honing in on the angelic side of you. This shift isn’t just about feeling good in the moment; it’s about making choices that lead to lasting fulfillment, peace, and alignment.

Leaning into my highest self is not about trying to be perfect—it’s that inner compass that helps me make choices from a place of authenticity, instead of reacting out of fear, pressure, or the “shoulds” of life.

What does this version of myself look like? Calm, confident, and rooted in truth. This person doesn’t second-guess decisions because they come from a place of knowing who they are and what they stand for. This isn’t about being perfect or having it all figured out—it’s about being true to who I am, even when the world tells me to be something else.

I’ll admit: making decisions based on my highest self isn’t always easy. For most of my life, I’ve been conditioned to make choices that were "practical," "safe," or "what everyone else would do." Whether it was choosing a career path, friendships, or even how I spent my free time, I often found myself in a constant battle between what I should do versus what I wanted to do.

This kind of decision-making often left me feeling stuck, unfulfilled, and disconnected from my true desires. While I was meeting expectations and checking boxes, I wasn’t honoring my inner wisdom or aligning with my true purpose. And in the end, this approach just didn’t feel like enough. It didn’t lead to real happiness, and it certainly didn’t lead to personal growth.

So, how do I start making decisions based on my highest self? It’s not a one-time thing. It’s a practice. I’m learning to pause before making big choices, taking a step back to ask myself: Is this decision in alignment with my values? Does it bring me closer to the life I truly want?

Sometimes, this means saying no to things I once thought I "should" do, whether it’s a social obligation or a career path that no longer fits. Other times, it means leaning into my intuition, trusting my gut, and choosing what feels right even when it’s not the most logical option.

For example, I recently had the chance to take on a project that would’ve been great for my resume but didn’t align with my personal values or long-term goals. Instead of jumping in out of fear that I’d miss out, I took a step back and listened to that quiet voice inside me saying, "This isn’t your path right now." It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right one. And in choosing to honor my highest self, I felt an immediate sense of relief and clarity. I also recently realized that although I thought I liked knitting I in fact, do not enjoy doing it, so I’m going to let that identity go, and that’s okay. 

In other ways, it’s more about simply living into this version of myself that I want to be, my highest self. I’m not waiting for the perfect moment, this person is here now, available to me immediately. 

My hope is to feel a weight of indecision lifting, a confidence in choices and prioritization. A sense of trust in myself, in the outcomes, because it is aligned with my true essence. 

Perhaps I’ll be able to notice the small wins, choosing to spend more time doing things that genuinely light me up, like creative projects and meaningful connections, rather than doing things out of obligation, numbing out, or disassociating will help me feel more relaxed and energized. Perhaps it won’t.

Either way, there is something grounding about the feeling that I’m saying “yes” to myself, saying “yes” to a more aligned life. 

As I continue leaning into my highest self this year, I’m excited for the growth and transformation that lies ahead. This practice is still unfolding, and I know there will be moments where I doubt myself or fall back into old patterns. But the difference now is that I’m committed to trusting this journey and making decisions that feel authentic, fulfilling, and aligned with my true self.

I’m curious: how are you aligning to your highest self? What does that look like? Are you able to trust in the answers that come? What have you noticed about your internal wisdom? And then honoring that with self awareness and gratitude for prioritizing you.

Warmly,

Coco @SacredOrdinary