Dealing
with rejection has been one of the more popular topics around here, maybe
because there’s so much rejection around. One I haven’t mentioned before is
responding by asking some questions. These could include:
1: I
wonder how this person keeps their job when they obviously don’t recognize
talent when they see it? (OK, so this one isn’t so constructive, but you’re
allowed to have a little bit of fun.)
2: Is there anything I can learn from this? (If any comments have accompanied the rejection.)
3: If this rejection has upset or depressed me, how long do I plan to feel that way before I take constructive action, like submitting the material elsewhere? Setting an actual time, such as a day or 2.5 days, works better than trying to deny the feeling or trying to get rid of it instantly. Most of the time you’ll find that it has disappeared before the time is up.
4: What does this rejection feel like when I take a big step back and put into perspective? Where does it fit into the picture of everything I’ve achieved in the past month? Past year? Past decade?
5: What does this rejection feel like when I take a big step forward and put it into perspective? What am I likely to feel about it in a month? In a year? In five years?
The next time you’re upset by a setback, give this a try.
