For the first time, yesterday I received opportunity rejection. Meaning it was the first opportunity that I've went for and was unsuccessful at.

This may come accross annoyingly, like I’ve always got what I wanted, which is true to an extent in terms of being given the opportunity, but that doesn't mean things have always turned out. A lot of these given opportunities never worked out because of one reason or another. So It's not like I've just breezed my way through. In fact, a lot of things haven’t worked out for me the way I imagined them to. It's just the actual opportunity that I have never been declined before.

The opportunity itself I wasn’t even too fazed by. If anything when It got nearer the time I was kind of relieved in a way to have not got it, as circumstances may be changing soon. The thing I find most hurtful is the feeling of not being wanted, or not liked, or not good enough for whatever reason they thought.

But as my dad put so wisely (and bluntly) “welcome to the real world”, which is very true. In a way I think it’s important at some point in our lives we experience rejection of some kind. It makes you realise you really have to work for what you want, and you do have to continuously work on yourself. I think experiencing rejection is what makes you human and relatable. A friend of mine always joked I always got what I wanted, and in a way It made me feel bad, almost undeserving of always getting the opportunities I went for. As I never felt particularly deserving of any of them.

I think things like this are what shape us and make us a stronger person. To get knocked down is a challenge to see how you manage to stand back up. Surprisingly I’m doing better than I thought I would (admittedly wasn’t too bothered about the opportunity itself, but still.) Which makes me wonder why people end up worrying the great amount they do about rejection? Yes it can hurt, yes it can suck, but I think we are all stronger than we realise we are.

Throughout life people continuously get knocked back, and they aren’t any less of a person. If anything perhaps more driven and thick skinned. Realise rejection isn’t always personal, sometimes you just don’t fit in with the opportunity, or competition was high. Most of all not everyone is going to like you; you aren’t going to impress everyone. But that’s ok, because when someone does see potential in you, from a job to a relationship, it’ll make it all the more special.

You don’t have to be accepted into every opportunity and accepted by everybody, you just have to remember to always accept yourself. Don't beat yourself up about things you wish you'd done differently, don't try and make yourself into someone you're not. You are good enough, rejection and all.