This post is based on a real-life session with a client. I use an analogy with science labs and go on to expand on how rejection can actually be more helpful than what we often conceive as success.
Used with permission and edited mildly for context.
''Rejection and failure are actually our best friends... success is a very vague concept.''
Session Excerpt:
People tend to forget what scientists do for a living.
Scientists fail for a living! That is their primary activity - they literally spend millions of dollars on it.
Failing every single day (until they reach a conclusion).
We tend to forget why that is a healthy approach.
Rejection and failure are twin siblings. And two of the most useful pieces of information people tend to miss out on, sadly.
Rejection and failure are actually our best friends. They're way better friends than success.
'Success' is a very vague concept. What counts as success today, might not feel like success to you in a few months or years. Or even on the same day, depending on what frame of mind you're in.
Rejection and failure, on the other hand, don't leave you hanging.
Don't leave you guessing.
Once we're rejected, we know that a door just closed.
Our knee-jerk reaction is to feel like our self-worth is being threatened.
But that's actually just poor 'training' (for lack of a better term).
The fact of the matter is, one door closing is actually great news!
Because I get to find out that ''...hey that was not my path, I was not supposed to go in there''.
The quickest way to find the right door is to get the closed ones out of your way.
''...Rejection is an inherent part of life.''
Rejection is an inherent part of life. It might be a record label today, a record mogul tomorrow. It might be a lover the day after...it might be our children in a few years.
It is an inherent part of the human condition that we have to live with, one way or the other.
But when it comes to your career, the earlier you get that part out of the way (knowing where you don't belong), the rejection will be an increasingly strong guide to guide you towards where you do belong.
Summary: Main Topics
The Importance of Failure and Rejection in Life
Scientists spend millions of dollars failing every day. This is a healthy approach that artists tend to forget completely about.
Rejection and failure are valuable information that can guide us toward the right path. Rejection is not a reflection of self-worth. It is simply the consequence of one action.
Embracing Failure as a Guide to Success
Rejection and failure provide clarity by closing doors not meant for us, helping us find the right path.
Success is inherently a subjective concept and can change over time.
Failure, on the other hand, provides clear feedback on what doesn't work for us! Approaching rejection from this lens transforms it into a guide to help lead us to 'where we belong'.
Questions / Answers
Why do scientists spend so much on failing?
Scientists invest in failure because it's an essential part of the experimental process, leading to valuable insights and progress.
How can rejection be seen as a positive aspect?
Rejection closes doors that aren't meant for us, guiding us towards paths where we truly belong.
Key Points and Insights
Failure is an integral part of progress, providing valuable learning experiences.
Embracing rejection as guidance helps individuals navigate toward their true calling.
Understanding that rejection does not define our worth allows for personal growth.
