Rejected from The University of Vulnerability

I'll be the first to firmly admit that I was never rejected by the admissions department at The University of Vulnerability. I was never admitted either, though, because I was afraid that I may be rejected. I prevented the potential mental pain (shame, sadness, or embarrassment) by not applying at all.

According to Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, here are the first two definitions of the word "vulnerability":

1 : capable of being physically or emotionally wounded
2 : open to attack or damage : assailable <vulnerable to criticism>

I would never want to be capable of being hurt or open to the opportunity of facing a loss. I would never want to be vulnerable - unless I was capable of calculating risks and open to the opportunity of facing great rewards.

I believe there's a theory, thought, quote, or myth - something - about "risk versus reward." The greater the risk, the greater the reward. It's apparent in gambling or investing in stocks, but does it apply to experiences in day-to-day life?

Is there any difference in the related risks and rewards of applying to one school versus another? Asking one person out for a date versus another? Committing to one career over another?

Perhaps the higher the quality, the more likely one may choose to feel bad about possibly being rejected. Perhaps in our daily lives, rejection is all the same until we face extremes.

Example: I meet a woman I like a lot (like, "I would have this person's children and spend the rest of my life with them,"), share a conversation, ask her out, and she rejects me. I could immediately feel bad and start to question the multiple reasons she said, "No." Or I could appreciate my willingness to risk loss (losing something I never truly had, though) and realize that there was a good chance her choice had very little or even nothing to do with me.

No matter the reason, I would have been educated enough to be open to the opportunity. The more open we are to opportunities, the more opportunities we are open to finding. Cyclical Pattern #1.

It sounds nice, but for someone who prefers to think good thoughts (and therefore feel good based on those thoughts), going the easy route has been a preference of mine as well.

No one wants to feel inadequate. Good news: there's a way to prevent feeling dumb or weak after choosing to be vulnerable to rejection and loss: understanding and accepting reasons for your potential "failure" that don't even relate to you. And being open to learning about ways to improve your position, offerings, or competitive advantage.

I'm apart of "Generation Me" and often get what I want. Personally, however, this mentality places limitations on what I want because to play it safe, I normally don't want very much. Cyclical Pattern #2.

If I reprogram myself just a little bit and realize that I can have whatever I want within reason while being reasonable (and sure, vulnerable), I may be more likely to attempt to get it. Get it? I did. Eventually...