These words can manifest in different forms but tell the same story— one of defeat. Both rejection and failure embody a sense of defeat. This defeat, whether at the beginning, middle, or end of a path is a familiar feeling of disappointment or judgment.
No matter the location, time, or place, you feel your biggest obstacle is yourself. Feeling defeated before you can even start.
Lost in the race you created for yourself.
Rejection can stop you in your tracks, whether it’s getting rejected from a dream college, failing in a relationship, or not getting a certain position. Rejection and failure are universal experiences, and everyone is bound to experience that sinking feeling.
Getting Rejected
It hurts to be rejected in any shape or form. It’s common to get hurt, but not caring about rejection can be just as common. You aren’t meant to take rejection personally or let it sting you forever. It’s meant to be treated like a small harmless prick on a finger.
Let the immediate feelings of sadness wash out, stop them from hurting your well-being, and then treat for the process of a small healing to begin. A single rejection or multiple should not define your identity, life, and worth.
You can’t control what the outside world believes you are or aren’t the right fit for.
You can grow from your past experiences.
“I remember a saying from Janet Fitch that ‘the Phoenix must emerge'” said Forsyth County resident Ashley Gomez. “This stuck with me because life is all about rising from the ashes of all your failures and rejections in order to create the person you are today.”
You are who you choose to be, and you are who you choose to become.
Failing
Realizing you have a shortcoming is step one. Deciding what to do with your shortcoming is step two. Even the most successful people in the world have failed in their area of specialty.
For instance, when J.K Rowling was trying to get the first Harry Potter book published she was rejected from all publishers—except one. This is surprising since Harry Potter is now a multi-billion dollar franchise that is widely popular throughout the world. You can find Rowling’s series in almost every library, and there is a section dedicated to it at Universal Studios theme park.
Sometimes you miss the experience of your success just like Vincent Van Gogh.
Vincent Van Gogh saw failure as subjective. “Success is sometimes the outcome of a whole string of failures,” said Van Gogh. He failed to become a known artist during his lifetime, only selling one painting, bought by a friend.
Despite not having success while alive, he didn’t know that he had made art for the future. He produced great and well-known works like The Starry Night and The Potato Eaters. Van Gogh is one of the most inspirational and influential artists that ever existed, without ever knowing himself.
Both of these figures showcased that the path to achievement isn’t a clear or straight walkway. Their stories show us that falling on a path isn’t easy, but we can always get up and continue walking.
“Sometimes people have to miss opportunities to make time to grow,” Forsyth County resident Emma Smith said.
Rowling’s rejections from publishers did not stop her from creating a world loved and cherished by many. Van Gogh reminds us that making an impossible dream can be fulfilled without immediate validation. His perseverance when battling adversity left a legacy.
Success may bring honor, but it’s the failures we grow from. Learning to accept shortcomings allows us to go beyond what we thought we could do, which enables us to reach our full potential.
When you experience success or loss, treat yourself with grace. Be kind to yourself as you learn to grow from your defeat. Take them not as crises that cannot be overcome, but as experiences bursting with future gratitude.
