Making a Positive Out of Rejection

 

Let’s talk rejection. It can be a terrible thing. What is rejection?

the dismissing or refusing of a proposal, idea, etc. or the spurning of a person’s affections.

It’s a lot of things to sum it up — the email that states the job you wanted decided to go in a different direction, your crush denying you that date or feel, being denied entry into a place that you want to go into, and so many more things.

Rejection sucks, yes it does. It can hurt. It can make you feel different things, and they can be good or bad things. It takes a stab at your self-esteem, and you start to pity yourself. It’s one of those feelings that you want to avoid. You want to avoid the hurt and not deal with it.

What are you going to do?

You can cry. You can be angry. You can shout, and you can pout (I rhymed on purpose, no biggie). You’re allowed to sulk, and you’re allowed to feel some type of way. Just don’t let those feelings last forever because rejection doesn’t define you. It is one moment surrounded by many other moments that can outshine it.

Have I ever been rejected? Yes, many times. There have been jobs that I haven’t received because of a lack of experience, or they found someone else that fit the role more. I’ve been told no from brands for their affiliate programs because I’m not as big of a blogger like they would like. I’ve dealt with my crushes not liking me back in middle school and high school which is a childhood rejection story but nonetheless, I’ve been dealing with this thing called rejection.

It can be big or small, but rejection can affect you in different ways. But it’s best if you don’t let it get you down for a lengthy amount of time. You never know what’s out there, something great can be waiting on you.

You aren’t their cup of tea, and that’s okay.

It’s no big deal — literally, not a big deal. You are not going to be everyone’s first choice, and you have to be okay with that. Sometimes, it just wasn’t meant to be, and that’s okay. That interview didn’t go as planned because there’s something else waiting on you. Do not get yourself down because you are being denied something. If you let every no eat away at you, would be here right now? Would you have survived all the moments that you have already survived? Probably not.

Do not let one moment make you feel like you don’t matter or that you aren’t good enough.

Just because a choice was made, it doesn’t make you the worse choice ever. You made it to that platform to present yourself, and now you’re being given another chance. Look, everyone has their preferences. Some people like water and other people like soda. There are people that like both but when it comes down to the wire, they have to choose one. Can you imagine how hard the decision must be for people who use those Pepsi and Coca Cola machines that give you the soda plus different flavors? A preference has to be made. Don’t sweat; the next person might choose you.

You’re Early Grey Tea, and they want something a little less strong… they want Green Tea. Let them sip on their Green Tea and be on your merry way.

Rejection is just one no, there’s a yes out there.

Remember that. Bear in mind that rejection is just one no, it doesn’t impact everything else in your life. You might not have received that job offer because there’s something different out there that fits you more. There is someone out there waiting to say yes to you. Don’t let that one ‘no’ hold you back and kill your spirit.

It’s cliche, hopeful, and confident, but there is a yes out there. It takes many do-overs before getting it right.

Could you tie your shoes on the first try? Did your winged eyeliner ever end up matching or perfect on the first go? Probably not. If you could, teach me your ways.

What I am trying to say if that just because one person said no, it doesn’t mean the next person is going to say no. You have to keep going to get the results that you want. There’s no way that you’re going to keep ending up with the same result. Take that hit and keep on. There is something out there for you; you just haven’t met your perfect match of a job, significant other, etc.

Jus think of if this way — you’re being redirected to a different path, a path that was meant for you to travel down. You took a right instead of a left, and you just turned around so you could make the left turn. Your ‘yes’ is on another path.

Where’s the positive in all of this?

Come on; I feel like I brightened the mood and made sure to point out that you are great. Is that not enough? There are many positives from rejection, whether you want to believe it or not. So you didn’t get selected for the job, you could have been overqualified, or there was just someone else that stood out. What do you take from this moment? You keep on going and keep on taking interviews until the position that is the right fit comes along. Have you been shot down before in a romantic sense? That’s okay, that person is not your person. Look at Roger from Sister, Sister — he was constantly rejected, and he didn’t let that stop him… although, he probably should have tried different girls from time to time.

What I’m saying is there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, you just have to push yourself along to get to it. That no you just received isn’t going to mean anything when you accept that yes. You might feel dejected and somber for a moment, but it won’t last long. And I promise that feeling of acceptance will outdo that sad feeling and it’ll last for a long time.

Knock the idea that when you get rejected that you’re supposed to lay around and wallow. No, that’s not you. Life goes on and that person or job that passed on you, they don’t get to see you succeed and conquer the world.

I need you to do 3 things right now:

• Accept the rejection, it’s okay. Just know it happens to us all.
• Rejoice because that move wasn’t your move.
• Prepare yourself for the ‘yes’ that is coming.

Rejection is momentary. It can happen frequently. It can knock your hustle for a minute and make you doubt yourself. But, there is a yes out there. Don’t stop trying and don’t deny yourself the opportunities that present themselves. Never shy away from something because you aren’t good enough; there are people out there that are willing to take a chance and teach.

Find the positive at the end of the day. Your ‘yes’ is out there and waiting for ya. Don’t dwell and start working towards it.

Everyone gets rejected at one point or another in life. It’s up to you on how you handle it and if you just accept that life keeps on moving and you should too.