Every time we hear the word "selfish," it's safe to say there's likely a negative connotation with it. But lately, I've realized that sometimes it can actually be OK to be what we might think of as "selfish."

For as long as I can remember, I've been a people-pleaser. I've begrudgingly given up things that I wanted, missed out on experiences or passed up opportunities. I did all of these things out of fear of upsetting someone else and not wanting to deal with the backlash, not taking into account how this gave me "the short end of the stick" in most situations.

As I've gotten older and started to experience more of the "real world," I've realized that I can't keep being afraid to go after a goal I've worked hard for. My junior year has been filled with those vital internship hunts, applications for positions and a lot of competition.

I realized that if I want to make it in the entertainment world, where job competition is high, I was going to have to start taking chances and doing what's best for me. While I've feared to get in someone else's way, I knew I had to make the most of my opportunities if I wanted to be successful and reach my goals I've had set for years.

Let me clarify: I am not saying it's a dog-eat-dog world where you have to tear everyone else down to get what you want. Loyalty, honesty, fairness, and friendship are all that must drive us in any area of our lives, especially within our career paths. Tearing someone down by being manipulative or dishonest is not only unfair but just wrong.

Besides, would you really want to achieve your dream by intentionally hurting someone else? Is losing a friend due to your unkind actions worth the prize? Additionally, many public relations professionals offering their advice have also reminded us that this career is SO relationship driven, and we should never burn bridges with others within our networks.

I'm not saying the world should be "all about me," but we can't fear any resentment from others that may occur when we make a move that does better ourselves.

What I AM saying is that it's important for us to remember that it's not a bad thing to chase your goal. If you work hard with a level mindset and honest intentions, it is OK for you to seize that opportunity if it's presented to you, even if you worry what others might say or feel about you.

If you strive for something and you get the chance to move forward, then your hard work has paid off. We all have a plan and a journey for our lives that will happen when it's supposed to. So, we have to learn to not feel guilty when our time comes.

The world is competitive, but this competition can be a good thing. It can push us to continue working and strive to be our best. It can motivate us to set high goals and standards for ourselves and our achievements. It can bring out the skills and traits that every single one of us has to bring to the table.

When we all focus on how we can perform as our best selves, what others are doing really won't matter in the end. Instead, we'll work better as a team when we take those opportunities, exercise our talents, and practice being "sometimes selfish."