“The one” can be oh so many different things, but today we’re talking about all positions (love, business, awards, competitions, etc) for which there is seemingly an occupancy of one.
First, it’s okay. By its very conception, there are only two groups for this position: the person who is “the one,” and the multitudes who are not “the one.” The odds of being in that second group are about 7 billion times higher, maybe even more.
Second, “the one” is never permanent. Much like we humans, the status of “the one” is mortal, passing in tandem with its bearer, or even earlier. There will eventually be another “the one” for any position not entirely based on being first somehow. And eventually, those who remain will even forget that “the one” in favor of the most impactful or most contemporary “the one.”
Third, it turns out everything is “the one.” Even jobs where 10 people were simultaneously hired from among a pool of 1000 applicants, each person was “the one” who was chosen next to be moved to that pile for their unique qualifications. Losing out on this “the one” will actually leave you open to be “the one” for so many other things you can’t imagine and would never have seen otherwise.
Lastly, every single “the one” is defined and created by humans, and we’re out here just dreaming them up all day long. Collaborated collectively or assessed alone, precisely measured or loosely subjective, there are limitless positions and more springing into existence every day. You are already “the one” in infinite contexts, and you can always think up a new “the one” for you to be today.