Rejection Hurts | But Persistence Cures

Rejection hurts, however, providing you learn to understand and deal with it, it doesn’t have to define you or set you back.
 
Several months ago, I applied to be a keynote speaker at a large global corporate conference. And, last week I received a standard one-line email stating that I was not selected and due to the volume of applicants, no specific feedback would be given.
 
Did the email upset me? Initially, yes, however, I got over it quite quickly because I have learned to deal with rejection positively. Some years ago, I read a book (apologies, I can’t remember the name of it) which stated that to build self-confidence we should become comfortable with collecting “no’s”. Meaning, we need to get comfortable collecting rejections. The idea being that the more we amass rejection, the easier it is to face. Which ultimately then leads us to become incredibly relaxed and confident, chasing every opportunity out there, regardless of any potential rejection that may occur.
 
I have taken those words of wisdom to heart over the years. As a result of this, I have had many successes from opportunities that I otherwise may not have pursued. And, on the flip-side, I have collected countless ‘no’s’ and have been rejected on multiple occasions. 
 
If you are dealing with rejection or have a fear of rejection, then there are a few things to consider:

• Understand rejection – don’t predict, imagine or project the reasons for the refusal. Listen to specific feedback and acknowledge it, but don’t add to the rejection by creating a story about it and making yourself feel worse. And, if you haven’t received specific feedback, then let it go. Don’t create a narrative about the rejection.
• Embrace feedback – if you have received specific feedback, then see this as an opportunity to improve.
• Collect your “no’s” and face rejection head-on. The more you receive rejections, the easier it will be to embrace it and let it go.
• Remember that persistence cures rejection. 

 
You will be rejected more times than you are accepted, and that is okay. It doesn’t mean that you are a failure or undeserving; it just means that you tried and weren’t the right fit for that particular opportunity. 
 
It’s not an excuse to give up - it just means that you need to keep persisting.