The old adage, everything happens for a reason has a ring of truth to it. Let me explain. If you’re anything like me, after receiving several rejection emails or not getting a reply at all, you begin to think to yourself, “Wow, it’s really over this time.” How do you feel when you’ve put your heart into a project at work, or for your business, and it’s not received well or it flops? Rejection isn’t pleasant, and it can temporarily damage your self-confidence if you’re not careful. Rejection hurts. Here are four ways to adjust your perspective to successfully get past no, and move on to your greatness.

 

1). Do Your Best Every Time

 

Remember when you were a kid and your caregiver told you to always do your best no matter what you were doing? Ironically, it still applies in our adult lives as well. Doing your best on every project will help you to feel confident in your abilities and help to build a solid reputation in your industry. Additionally, what constitutes your best will vary depending on other factors such as your physical and emotional health, current projects, family responsibilities, and more. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Doing your best means that you’re prepared and you’re giving it your all. That in itself is something to be proud of.

Celebrate your small victories and your contributions to any solo and collaborative projects. Be proud of what you’ve learned during the process, and how much you’ve grown as a result. If you’ve pitched to present your product or service at an event, or to collaborate with your peers at work but were rejected, remember to focus on the positive aspects of the situation.

 

2). Analyze and Regroup

 

Believe me, I understand how crushing it is to receive another rejection email to add to the stack. Take a moment to separate your emotions from the issue. Was this your best work? Regardless of your answer, maybe it wasn’t the right project for you after all. If it was your best work, did it miss the mark in some way? If you discover that your work didn’t meet all of the criteria, don’t feel hopeless. Instead, reach out to your collaborators or supervisor to schedule a time to discuss what you think happened, and to receive constructive feedback to enable you to improve next time. What if you’ve launched a new product or service for your business and it flopped as fast as it launched? The same principles apply. Follow up with your clients to determine what products and services they’re interested in, and what the initial product launch lacked. In addition, find a trusted peer or confidant to get their feedback. Use this time to regroup.

 

3). Stay Motivated

 

Despite receiving numerous rejections, not receiving a reply at all, or literally watching your new product die, you can survive this minor setback and stay motivated. But how? I think it’s important to continue to take care of your mental and physical health during this stressful period. Additionally, it’s very important to educate yourself regarding the latest industry trends. Read relevant books, engage in several webinars, listen to podcasts or take a class or two to hone your skills. Then, slowly begin strategizing about how to incorporate this new information into your project. Thinking about the endless possibilities should be enough to maintain your motivation. Use this time wisely to stay motivated, and remember to be patient.

 

4). Revise and Return Stronger

 

What are you going to do with the priceless information you’ve learned? I strongly encourage you to keep trying. With that being said, of course you’re going to use it to improve the quality of your product or project. Review the information and think of ways to incorporate the best suggestions into your work. While revising everything, don’t forget to take frequent breaks as needed to avoid burn out. Sometimes we can become so involved with a project that we actually become sick of it, and we may even neglect our health in the process. Use this time to revise your product, service or strategy again, and prepare to return to the market stronger and more confident than before.

 

The Progression

 

Experiencing rejection is a part of life, and it’s also a part of the process. You have to expect more noes on your journey to get to the glorious yeses. Honor the talents and skills you’ve demonstrated in order to take your product or project to completion. Despite the amount of rejections you’ve received, understand that there’s always something new to learn from each one. Celebrate what you’ve learned thus far, and remember that everything happens for a reason. Be grateful that you’re in a position to experience this progression, and move on to your greatness.

 

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Karen Doniere is an author, blogger, and speaker with a passion to inspire women, moms, and mompreneurs to take better care of themselves. She is the chief curator of the KD Collection, where she shares her heart in every article. Karen is the author of the new Baby Bear children’s book series, and the creator of The Forgiveness Project: a positive and healing conversation where women feel safe to share their journeys. Through her mentoring program, she helps women turn their ideas into achievements, one step at a time. Karen’s inspirational articles have been featured on websites such as She Owns It and She is Fierce!

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