Toni loved the weekend. It meant that she could turn off the world and escape to her fantasy writing, where she had created her own world.
For as long as Toni could remember, she had loved writing. She enjoyed slipping away and just writing for hours on end. She would get lost in her world full of dragons, villains, and romance. She was now completing her fifth novel in her series.
Her family and friends had encouraged her to send her work to, but she did not have the courage. She did not want to receive the letters of rejection or to have anyone tell her that her stories were not good enough.
So Toni convinced herself that her writing was only a hobby, and she did it only for herself. She told herself that it was not important to get her books published because it was easier than getting rejected by publishers. She was afraid that they would tell her that her work was not good, and for her, a rejection letter would confirm this. So Toni never sent out her manuscripts and began living the story “I don’t want to be rejected.”
Nobody likes the feeling of being rejected, but in truth, the fear of being rejected has a far greater impact on our lives than the rejection itself. This fear can make us step back from life because we might get hurt. This can then prevent us from becoming more and reaching our fullest potential.
It is true that at times we may feel the sting of rejection when we bare our souls and put our work out there, but it is equally true that sometimes it can also lead to unexpected, new, and extraordinary paths.
For living life is all about taking risks. It is the risk of not playing it safe that makes life exciting and interesting. That is where the magic happens. At some point in our lives, we have to make the decision to be bold, brave, and take the risk. Otherwise, we will be forced to live a half-hearted life and miss out on all the opportunities.
So this week’s challenge is to examine in which areas of your life you are holding yourself back because of fear of rejection. Then ask yourself the following questions: How will your life change if you succeed with being bold brave and daring? How important is this to you? What is the worst thing that will happen if you get rejected? And, most importantly, is it worth the risk?
One of the biggest threats that holds you back and keeps you from living the life you want is your fear of rejection. We need to learn to face the fear and make the decision to move ahead despite it. All fears are just thoughts, and whilst they may appear very real, they are just illusions of the mind. We need to feel the fear and then just do it.
Most successful people have faced fear and pushed through it. J.K. Rowling was turned down and rejected by many publishers before finally finding success with Harry Potter, which went on to become an immediate success.
So do not let the fear of rejection hold you back from your dream!
Forever creating,
Deborah Ruth
