There are few things in life that gets to us the way rejections do. And unlike what we may have been told, this is one where practice doesn’t makes perfect.   

If there is a race in setting a world record in rejection, I’d be a contender.

Rejection is the same feeling as not getting across a finish line. It’s like participating in a race. At first, you’re running as an equal to the other contestants, crowds cheering you on. You feel as strong and fast as the rest of the runners.

But somewhere along the way the cheering stops and the crowds spread out.

The other runners are suddenly way ahead. And eventually everyone disappears into a blurry fuzz, along with the finish line, until they’re all gone. Leaving you behind.

Rejection makes you experience failure, heartbreak and shame.

It doesn’t matter whether the rejection is losing out on a job, someone you love or a close friend. They all contain the same recipe of emotions. Failure because you set out to win something, or someone, that you couldn’t. Heartbreak that someone doesn’t think you’re good enough and worth cheering for.

Shame because you were foolish enough to think you even stood a chance.

To make things worse, everyone else is doing great. They managed to land that new job on their first interview. They’re in a happy relationship or have dates lined up for the next six weeks. They have a busy social life and calendars fully booked.

I can’t tell you the amount of rejection I’ve encountered.

But I’m sure it’s way above average for someone my age. I can’t tell you the amount of tears I’ve cried over people who didn’t deserve it, but it’s enough to fill an ocean. I can’t tell you the amount of hours I’ve spent putting myself down for being rejected for different life opportunities, but it probably adds up to months, if not years.  

Working as a freelancer, rejection when pitching an article happens on a regular basis.

And just as I think I’m getting stronger, and tell myself that I’ve finally learnt how to cope with them, a new one comes my way. And reminds me that this is something I cannot escape from. This is one where practice doesn’t makes perfect.

But the alternative is worse than the pain.

The alternative is to stay in the comfort zone, where no rejection or pain will ever get to you.
But it is also where dreams never see the light of day, where no new skills are born and where no strangers will ever turn into loved ones. So even though I’ve shed countless of tears, I’d shed even more and choose rejection every time.

If there is a race in setting a world record in rejection, I’d be the proud winner.

But hey, you lose some and you win some.
Check out when I did win some: