After watching Oprah’s speech at the Golden Globes, I’ve wanted to email you but there is so much to say and I wasn’t quite sure how to put all of my feelings into words.

First, #metoo

I haven’t spoken about it much, but when I was 17, my first love physically abused me. She and I were so young, so confused about our sexuality, and so in love that when I tried to end the relationship so I could date boys, she began hitting me.

This pain and shame has stayed with me for 26 years.

Though she and I have reconnected as adults and she has apologized, I’ve stayed mostly silent about it out of love and protection for her.

But staying silent has made me feel small.
Insecure.
Less than.

So at a woman’s conference in December, when the leader asked everyone who has been abused in any way to please stand up, I slowly stood as my knees shaked. I was in the front row and when I turned around, the sea of nearly 2500 women standing took my breath away.

Then a woman screamed – A guttural, piercing, scream. The kind of scream we yearn for, but rarely allow ourselves.

So the leader said, “Let’s all join her.”
Together, 2500 women screamed out our pain, our anger, our sadness, our fear. Tears streamed down my face as my knees dropped to the ground and I screamed out my pain from the depth of my soul.

Then I felt empty. Pure. Whole. FREE.
A woman came up to me later and told me that her pain has been so bottled up that she had been unable to scream – until she saw me. My truth unblocked her pain and shed her fear.

As Oprah said, “Speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we have.”

If I’ve learned anything on this Purpose journey, it’s that you’ve lived your story to share it and help others. Every time I talk about my pain – miscarriage, anxiety, leaving Corporate, depression, I get emails saying, “Thank you, me too.”

Your TRUTH is your purpose.
Your TRUTH is inspiring.
Your TRUTH is needed.

And your TRUTH isn’t just pain. Your truth is your joy, your soul’s essence, your passions. Your truth is who you are beneath the layers of guilt and fear and shame that have been put upon you. Your truth is who you are underneath the masks you wear, the perfection you desire, and the roles you play.

Your truth is who you are and why you’re here.

And my love, you’re here for purpose. Every single one of us is here for purpose – and you are no exception.

Even if you feel lost, stuck, or like you have no idea who you are…Your purpose, your truth, is there underneath. We just have to uncover it.

The question is if you’ll allow yourself to stop hiding and become the woman you were born to be. We are needed now more than ever. Your gifts, your strengths, your story is needed. We need your truth.

So I hope you join me this year to make 2018 the year that you discover your purpose, to make 2018 the year you claim your truth, to make 2018 the year where you share your gifts and shine your light so brightly that you inspire and empower others. Your family, your community, your work need your purpose – and you deserve it.

May we all know purpose and truth,

With so much love,

Carin