Don’t Equate Rejection with Error

I recently wrote a article after being offered an opportunity to be a guest supporter on another blog. I was rather proud of my work. However, I’ve learned that doesn’t always mean it’s my BEST work. My perceptions won’t always equate to those of my readers. Despite my usual insecurities and doubts, I was still shocked to hear that my article was “too high brow for our crowd.” It may have been an easy way to let me down, or it may have been the honest truth. Either way, I couldn’t help but feel..

I was rejected.

I never consider myself or what I say high brow, so I couldn’t shake the refusal. I feel though, while not the most inspiring or polished of writers, that I can put thought to keyboard and make a point. Had I been wrong this whole time? Was I simply hearing the truth for the first time? Was I overreacting to an honest claim?

Most people chuckle when I say it, but I’m sincere when I claim that ignorance and stubbornness are two of my best qualities. My ignorance prevents me from giving in to fear and my stubbornness drives my resilience. I put a lot of me into what I write, and I refused to see a part of me exposed but unused. Just sitting in space. Alone. So…

I took it back.

It felt weird asking for my own writing back. But I’m stubborn. I was a little fearful of the response I would receive when I did so. But I’m ignorant. Though this writing was tainted and slightly distorted after the adventure it had been, I still wanted others to see it. So I did what any stubborn, ignorant person would do…

I shared it.

Just as I don’t expect what I say to be rejected, I don’t expect it to be praised. But the response from my colleagues and peers to what I had to say was remarkable. After being pulled from the pits of abandonment, it was difficult to adjust to the reception. I realized that my rejection didn’t constitute a mistake.

It’s difficult to deal with rejection. It’s personal. Even when we try so hard not to make it such. Even as we work, we fall in love with what we output if, and only if, we put a piece of ourselves into it. Otherwise we’re simply factory assemblers. But it’s important to separate rejection from error. Good ideas need good habitats. The two must be right for each other. If not, a simple change of scenery is all your good idea may need.

What’s equally important is being fearless when starting into the eyes of rejection. It’s simple to make the assumption that rejection equals a bad idea. And sometimes we DO have bad ideas. But sometimes a bit of stubborn ignorance is the best medicine for truly separating the good ones from the bad ones.

(Photo by Bludgeoner86 via Flickr Creative Commons License)