I want to share something really vulnerable with you today. This morning, I woke up to an Instagram comment that stung: "I wish Elifinaluk would stop spamming me." Ouch. (Yep, he didn't even spell my name right.) You know that immediate gut-punch feeling when you read something hurtful? Yeah, that one. My first reaction was defensive. I quickly replied, offering to remove them. But then something shifted as I was making breakfast for my daughter... I started really processing what I was feeling. After 20+ years in film and TV, you'd think rejection would slide right off me. But here's the truth: rejection always hurts, whether it's walking into an audition room or reading a comment online. And that's exactly what I want to share with you today. I know how terrifying it can be to show up online, to put yourself out there, to be vulnerable to judgment. When that fear of rejection hits, it typically does one of two things: 1. It can make us build walls, put up armor, and become less authentic (which ironically makes us less connectable) 2. Or worse - it can stop us from even trying, keeping us from pursuing what we truly desire But here's what I've learned after processing thousands of rejections throughout my career: trying to brush it off or tell yourself "it doesn't bother me" doesn't actually help. It just suppresses those very real feelings. And you know what happens when we suppress feelings? They're just boiling to come back up stronger than before. So, here was my process today: 1️⃣ I honored my hurt feelings. Yes, rejection stings - and that's okay. 2️⃣ Divinely, this very suitable quote landed in my inbox this morning: "Your value doesn't decrease based on someone's inability to see your worth." (Was a sign I am meant to share this message with you today.) 3️⃣ I chose to use this experience to connect more deeply with you, turning vulnerability into strength. Because here's the beautiful truth: when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable and process our feelings authentically, we become more real, more relatable, and more connected to the humans on the other side of the screen.