Rejection.

It’s the sinking feeling in your chest when you hear back from a job you had your heart set on that they found someone else. Or the sick feeling in your stomach when the person you love breaks your heart. Or the pounding of your heart when the work you put your all into is rejected by buyer or reviewer. Rejection comes in many different forms and all of us have experienced it one time or another, but how do you recover?

I believe the sting of rejection reflects how we really see ourselves: unlovable and unworthy of good. The rejecter confirms all of these self imposed thoughts. This feeling of being seen for what we believe we are creates that instant vulnerability and shame.

Recovering comes from the belief that you have purpose, that you are loved and you are worthy. If you truly believed these things of yourself, would you struggle with someone else’s opinion of you? This is what I love about the life giving words of God. Knowing that we are seen for everything that we are, good and bad, by a perfect God and deemed worthy of love and purpose anyway should help us navigate the rejection and disapproval of others in strength

I was prompted to write on this topic through conversations with a few of my creative friends about this as I explored starting my blog. Its very hard to put yourself out there as a creator and feel rejected. It feels as though the person rejected the work, emotional energy and passion you’ve put into your project. This fear of rejection prevents us from being truly authentic and steals the joy of the work. The truth is, your work, just like you isn’t meant for everyone. When you learn to accept that, you will find peace and fulfillment with your work.

What are your tips for handling rejection?