The Bachelor alum Rachael Kirkconnell has shared that she's choosing to view her breakup with Matt James as "a blessing in disguise" and she's moving forward.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I'm a very firm believer in thinking that it was a blessing in disguise and everything happens for a reason, and that that's just something that needed to happen in my life," Rachael told Us Weekly in an interview.

"I don't even know for what reason, but I'm trusting it. I'm trusting the process. I'm doing good and things are okay. So, yeah, as sad as it is, it happens for a reason."

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

Matt broke up with Rachael during a trip to Tokyo and then publicly announced their split via Instagram on January 16 without giving Rachael any warning.

The January 16 breakup post read, "Father God, give Rachael and I strength to mend our broken hearts. Give us a peace about this decision to end our relationship that transcends worldly understanding. Shower our friends and family with kindness and love to comfort us. And remind us that our Joy comes from you, Lord."

Rachael previously said on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast that she was sitting on a Georgia-bound plane waiting for it to take off when she saw Matt's Instagram post.

Rachael recalled her phone blowing up with text messages and calls, only to lose WiFi signal and have no phone connection for the next 12 hours.

Rachael admitted she felt "pure shock" and "so much confusion" about Matt's decision considering he had been so vocal in the media about his desire to propose marriage to her and start a family in the near future.

"I definitely think it was still out of nowhere," Rachael told the magazine while promoting her new clothing collection with Showpo.

"And I do think that whether there was either some regret [regarding] the breakup in the first place -- or at least the way that it was handled -- that's probably there, [on his end] if I had to guess or if I had to say without saying."

Rachael noted that "part of the reason" her split from Matt is still "pretty sad" is because "it definitely didn't have to go down the way it did."

Based on Rachael's side of the story, Matt dumped and blindsided Rachel because he didn't view her as his perfect person.

Matt was allegedly concerned about how emotional she got during challenging times and how she supposedly didn't apologize and take accountability for her mistakes and faults.

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)  

Shortly after their breakup, Rachael wished she and Matt could remain friends, but she also admitted to Alex Cooper that she could never reconcile with the former The Bachelor star because of how he had disrespected her at the end of their relationship.

"It's just sad to look back on now -- four years later, that's how things went out," Rachael explained.

"It's definitely something to not dwell on, but something that I wonder if I'll always be a little bummed out about."

Rachael expressed how she's now looking for a man who will show her respect, listen to her and empathize with how she's feeling.

"You need to have not only compassion for your partner, but also compassion for yourself," Rachael told Us.

"And not only compassion, but just making sure you have respect for yourself and for one another."

Rachael said she also wants her future boyfriend to accept her for who she is -- "flaws and all" -- because she plans to treat him the same way.

"And to always just make sure you are being an uplifting partner," Rachael continued.

"I won't speak for all women, but for me personally, I can be pretty self-conscious at times, or I can be really, really hard on myself."

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)

When looking back on her four-year relationship with Matt, Rachael said she's been wondering where that self-doubt and insecurity stemmed from.

"And I definitely want a partner that's just always very uplifting and supportive of me," Rachael said.

"Not that that's what they're there for -- I think you need to find that within yourself -- but having someone that supports you and uplifts you the same way you do them is a non-negotiable from here on out."

Rachael gushed about how she's now independent and in her "Golden Era," but she looks forward to eventually dating again.

However, Rachael said she's in no rush to meet someone and may not be interested in finding love for the second time on The Bachelor franchise.

"I don't know if I'm able to date someone within the franchise again. I don't know if I can do that again," Rachael admitted with Bachelor in Paradise's tenth season coming up this year.

"Listen, I'm never going to totally shut the door on anything. That's not me, but I also feel like it's pretty soon and I don't think I'm ready for that."

Rachael added with a laugh, "Maybe you won't see me on the beaches of Paradise, but you might see me on the beaches elsewhere, just a vacation by myself."

Matt's The Bachelor season filmed in late 2020, and he was shown giving Rachael his final rose on the Season 25 finale that aired in early 2021.

When Matt broke up with her in Tokyo, Rachael recalled on the "Call Her Daddy" podcast: "He said that, at the end of the day, there were qualities about me that he worries about having in a wife, like... there are things we are not compatible with."

She elaborated, "[He said], 'I should want to propose to you. At this point in our relationship... I should be ready for that, but I'm not still. I still don't feel like I'm ready. I don't know if I ever see myself proposing to you. I can't actually see myself married to you.'"

RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)

Interested in more The Bachelor news? Follow our Bachelor Nation News Page on Facebook or join our The Bachelor Facebook Group!




About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS