“Your success will never depend on one person, one opportunity, or one moment. Confidence comes from knowing you are bigger than any single setback.”
Rejection is a tough pill to swallow. Whether it’s in your personal life, business, or career, hearing a “no” can feel like a blow to your confidence.
Looking at the times I got a “no” for an answer, I came to a conclusion that rejection is the key to a bigger door. If I didn’t get a ‘no’ back then I wouldn’t have been where I am. And this has also helped me to develop patience as I wait. I know it can be overwhelming, disappointing and heartening, especially if you have worked for something really hard or you were really expecting and hoping you will be accepted. Sometimes it really hurts and then you are found in between loss and pain, where neither road is easy.
The goal here isn’t to avoid rejection. It is going to happen to all of us – facts! But how to handle it in the healthiest way possible is what one should learn.
Reframe rejection as Redirection
Getting a “no” for an answer doesn’t always mean you are not qualified. Sometimes it is not the right way to go and the universe is trying to redirect you on the right part. So, rejection can be a redirection.
Also, we might have missed something that was really important, that is why staying calm, rethinking and rechecking can help as well. It is also a way for the universe to tell us that we are not ready and it wants us to master what we do or what we are trying to pursue before we can have it, that is; getting the work done and putting in the efforts before it truly comes to us.
Let’s talk about J.k. Rowling, the author of harry porter. Can you guess how many times her manuscript was rejected? – 12 times. Yes, it was rejected by 12 publishers. Yet she kept trying. And finally The Harry Potter franchise went on to take in a record-setting $7.7 billion. She has inscribed her name among the richest women in the world.
“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all-in which case, you fail by default.” – J.K. Rowling
The story of J.K. Rowling teaches us that sometimes it is not you, or your work that is bad. It is just the other person that doesn’t recognize efforts and authenticity.
Reframe your perspective
The perception of a person being skilled or not is subjective – You can be one of the best, yet no one sees it. Thus, rejection is not a reflection of your worth. Do not belittle yourself and be negative about it.
Most of the time, getting a rejection has nothing to do with you – It has nothing to do with you not being qualified enough, it has nothing to do with you not being ready, it has nothing to do with you not being experienced enough. It is more about a redirection than you getting a “NO” for an answer. But it is always important to be humble and ask yourself; what is it I am missing? This is just a way of you being scrupulous and not you looking down on yourself or doubting yourself – Reflect, don’t dwell.
Remember that even the best dreams can be shattered. You know you are good? You know your worth? You know your strength? You know your capabilities? You stand up for your beliefs ? Then Keep aiming high, keep trying and keep working so hard despite setbacks. The ones that pushes through are those who come out as icons. Your success will never depend on one person, one opportunity, or one moment. Confidence comes from knowing you are bigger than any single setback.
Another example of someone who faced rejection is Oprah Winfrey who was fired from her first television job. She didn’t belittle herself but proceeded to create her own Tv show – the highest-rated TV show of its kind in history. Tell me who can fire her again?
“Everytime you get a ‘no’, use it to your advantage – Grow stronger and be better!”
Every great success story includes a chapter on rejection – yours is no different. There is nobody on this planet earth that hasn’t been rejected at least once, and how everyone deals with it is different. But I will say; you shouldn’t let it dampen your spirit or make you believe it is because you aren’t good enough.
