Pro Tips On Dealing With Rejection

Pro Tips on dealing with rejection:

#1 Don't! Just show up to that job and say you're ready to start. Just kidding, that's the exact opposite of what you need to do. The most important way to deal with rejection is to accept that things didn't work out and to avoid playing the blame game. The facts are, you wanted something to happen, and it didn't happen. The truth is, you may have to cry a little bit or take a long walk to blow off some steam. The lie is, this is the end. Rejection is just an event. It does not have to be the end of the story unless you want it to be.

#2 Don't allow rejection to lower your self-esteem or cause you to compromise your vision. I understand that things did not work out for you but that does not mean you are less than. There's more than one route to your destination and that route may be a little different than how it was mapped out in your head. Life is not a race, it's a journey.

#3 Use this as a lesson. What did you learn from this experience? What did you learn about yourself? What did you learn about others? It's easiest to walk away from rejection knowing you won't make the same mistake twice. Even Beyoncé watches her old videos to see how she can get better. Before you try "it" again or try something different, identify what went wrong. If it's in your control, then fix it. If it's out of your control, change the way you respond to the circumstance.

I began writing this post because I recently got denied admission into dental school for the second time submitting applications. Questions are constantly running through my head. Is this for me? Where did I mess up? Will I ever get in? Can I even do this? For years and years I excelled academically, so challenges in this area required some bending. Some of my family and friends don't even really comprehend the mountain I'm facing. I'm often hit with the response, "you're smart, you'll get in"... all I can do is smile and say thanks. When I think about all of the denials, an acceptance feels nearly impossible. After being upset for a while, I realized that this is only a failure if I allow it to be. (Especially because I know it's something that I still want to accomplish.) Great things take time to build and I'll feel so much better once I get there knowing how hard I've worked. In addition, in these last few years I have seen the beauty in waiting. I've had the opportunity to grow so much as a person. In ways I don't think I would have been able to if I was in school right now. In areas that I think will make this journey more enjoyable and make me more successful in the long run. I am embracing the journey and reminding myself constantly that it isn't a race.