Just Right, Just As You Are: Rejection, Growth, and the Power to LIVEBIG

Steven Norrell
Sep 22
3 min read

Nobody likes rejection. 💣 Let’s be real—whether it comes as a flat-out no, a lack of recognition, or a door slammed in your face, rejection stings. It cuts into that tender place between who you are and who you hope to be.

But here’s the truth you need to hear: you don’t have to compromise who you are to be accepted, respected, or successful.

You are already perfect.

That doesn’t mean flawless. Perfection here doesn’t mean without mistakes, without scars, or without insecurities. It means that you are exactly who you need to be right now—complete, whole, and worthy. And because you’re human, you also carry something extraordinary: the ability, the responsibility, and the opportunity to grow. 💥

The Human Paradox: Perfect And Growing

It may sound contradictory—how can you be “just right” while still needing growth? But that’s the paradox of being human.

Think of it this way:

An oak tree is perfect as a seed. 🌱
It’s perfect as a sapling. 🌿
It’s perfect as a towering giant. 🌳

At every stage, it is exactly what it should be—but it never stops growing until it’s reached its fullest expression.

You are no different. Right now, you’re “just right.” Tomorrow, you’ll be “just right” at the next level. And the day after, still “just right” as you grow into even more of yourself.

Rejection Is Not the End—It’s Part of the Process

So what about rejection?

Rejection is not proof that you’re not good enough. It’s not a sign you should shrink, quit, or bend yourself into someone else’s mold.

Rejection is simply a redirect.

A redirection of your energy.
A refinement of your skills.
A recalibration of your path.

Consider some of history’s most powerful stories:

Oprah Winfrey was told she wasn’t fit for television.
Walt Disney was fired for lacking imagination.
JK Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before Harry Potter found its way to the world.

They weren’t “wrong.” They weren’t “not enough.” They were just in the middle of the process—the turbulence before takeoff. ✈️

Turbulence Doesn’t Mean Crash Landing

When a plane hits turbulence, nobody assumes it’s crashing. The passengers may feel shaken, but the pilot knows turbulence is temporary. The course remains steady.

Your dreams work the same way.

Criticism, negative responses, or lack of immediate results aren’t signs to give up. They’re bumps in the air reminding you:

You’re moving.
You’re growing.
You’re on your way.

Don’t let the turbulence slow your drive. 🦁👣

Growth Is a Choice—And It’s Yours

Here’s the key: you can grow as far as you’re hungry enough to grow.

Growth doesn’t happen by chance. It happens by choice.Every day, you’re faced with a decision:

Stay comfortable, or stretch.
Play small, or LIVEBIG.
Let rejection define you, or let it refine you.

The hunger you bring determines how far you’ll go. Not talent alone. Not luck. Hunger.

The Responsibility of Growth

You are already enough. And because you are enough, you owe it to yourself—and to the world—to expand.

Your gifts aren’t just for you. They’re meant to be shared. When you grow, everyone around you benefits:

Your family sees what’s possible.
Your friends gain courage from your courage.
The world gets one more fully alive human being refusing to settle.

It’s not about proving yourself. It’s about becoming yourself—more deeply, more powerfully, more boldly than ever before.

LIVEBIG: Just Right, Just As You Are 🌍

So the next time rejection tries to knock you off course, remember this:

💣 You don’t have to compromise who you are.

💥 Growth is your responsibility, but perfection is already in you.

🦁 Your hunger determines how far you go.

👣 Every step—even the ones that feel like setbacks—moves you forward.

You are just right, just as you are. And tomorrow, when you’ve grown a little more, you’ll still be just right.

It’s all part of the process.

LIVEBIG. Let’s make it happen. 🌍

LIVEBIG