"Sorry, but we went with someone else."
"You have a great idea, but this is not for us."
"We regret to inform you..."
"No."
We've all heard it. We've all experienced rejection. And as much as it sucks, rejection is a very real part of life. But just because we know it's bound to happen to us at some point does not mean we are ready to deal with it when it does.
This semester in my English class we were tasked with writing different articles and sending them out to try and be published. One of my professor's goals was to help us get a taste of what it is like to be a freelance writer.
But his main goal was to help us learn how to deal with rejection. So far, I have received two rejections, four no responses and am still waiting to hear from two other submissions. I haven't gotten a single yes.
Getting that very first rejection hurt. I was upset because I had spent hours researching, writing and editing my piece. How could they not want it? Did they think it wasn't good? Did they hate it? Why did the reject it? All of these questions and more ran through my head as I read the two sentence long email over and over again.
But before I could work my way into a tailspin full of ice cream, tissues and sad music, I thought back to the beginning of the semester. Before even starting our first pieces our professor made us read a bunch of articles about rejection and watch different videos about it as well. We even discussed rejection in class multiple times.
Through these readings, videos and discussions I learned that rejection can be a good thing. Rejection doesn't always mean that someone hated you or what you submitted. It could just mean that it wasn't a good fit. It could just mean you need to do some revising. It could just mean you aren't meant to be there.
So, when I walked into class the next day and my professor asked if we had any news I proudly shared that I got rejected. Instead of getting a pitying "I'm so sorry" we celebrated my rejection! Getting rejected meant that an editor in the industry had read what I had written. Getting rejected meant I was one step closer to finding a home for my piece.
Rejection isn't the end of the road; it's just the beginning.
With rejection comes the chance to try again. You can send that article somewhere else. You can apply for a different job. You can ask some other person out. The only way rejection wins if you let your dream end with it. Use that rejection to fuel you and your dream. Use it to motivate you.
While getting rejected still undoubtedly hurts, I've learned that it isn't the end of the world. Rejection just means I have to put myself out there again until I finally get the answer I am looking for. And besides without rejection, you'd never know how sweet it feels to get accepted.