I was pretty disappointed when I received my LSAT score back. After months of intense studying, I was expecting something much higher than what the piece of paper in front of me was conveying. At that point in my life, three years ago, I was certain that law school was the path for me. Everyone told me I have exactly what it takes, who am I to question? Plus, going to law school was a much more enticing choice than graduating college with no plans. So when I received the score back, I was far beyond upset. I spent the day moping about it, then decided I was going to take a year off, work, and retake the test.

It was during that “year off” that I re-engaged with my yoga practice and fell HARD. Yoga opened up more doors for me than I can ever image and I finally feel as if I belong somewhere in the world. The year I found yoga, I found a sense of peace in my heart that has caressed my life in more ways than one. Once the relationship began, I could never see myself working in law. It dawned on me that I was going after law because of other’s expectations of me and not because I genuinely enjoyed it. Now I finally have something I am passionate about, there’s no way I was going back to school.

Who knows if I would have found yoga if I did get the LSAT score I was expecting. The point is, I know for certain that if I did go to law school my life would not be where it is right now. And all things considered, my life is pretty awesome. Certainly better than when I felt like an outsider to my own life. I almost bless that wicked test score.

I repeated this story to my myself over and over again last night when I received news that I did not get a job I considered Perfect. I had high hopes for this gig. And last night, via email (as all bad news seem to come in these days) there it was. Sorry, we do not want you.

It hurt pretty bad. But then I thought of the story above. Which really helped bring things to perspective. Who knows why this opportunity was turned down for me. Who knows what is in store for me.

It’s also nice to remember that rejection is normal. Struggle is normal. Life is hard! There is no denying that. Everyone I know has had it rough at some point. The question is not whether or not you will get rejected. If it hasn’t yet, TRUST ME, it will. The question is how you proceed. You have no control of how others are going to treat you or whether they are going to see the light in your heart. But you can control how you react. How you choose to take rejections. THAT is the true judge of character.

My value is not determined by whether or not this company felt I was worth hiring. My light is still in my heart. It’s still shining. And I have complete faith some company out there will see it. Until then, well, this little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.

Namaste.