Dear Rejection, Thank You

Life is about perception. We perceive situations as obstacles when sometimes they’re  a vehicle to our blessing. When you experience rejection it’s natural to feel neglected, unwanted, and frustrated. Often times, we think that blessings come easy without a fight, meaning we weren’t prepared to struggle to get to this so-called blessing. I’ve realized to receive what God has for you, sometimes you have to face a few rejections. For instance, when I think of my life, I want more… more happiness, more love, more opportunities to advance in my career, more money, just more everything. I definitely wouldn’t think God was blessing me if I was constantly denied these things. I would feel rejected.  Therefore, a blessing could never come in the form of rejection, right? Or maybe, just maybe, I perceived it as being denied when the blessing was in the rejection.

In the past, I always thought that rejection was negative.  Years ago, after graduating from Hampton University with a degree in Advertising and Marketing, I  planned to begin my career in corporate America.  I expected to land a full-time job with a Fortune 100 company making good money but that wasn’t the case. For almost two years, I settled for internships with two different companies. I believed I wasn’t good enough to work a full-time position and I was therefore unhappy.  After the internships ended, I worked 3 part-time jobs, as a shampoo girl, sales associate and substitute teacher. I didn’t believe any of those jobs were my calling so during that time I was pretty depressed. I felt incompetent and unqualified. I applied to many entry-level positions in Marketing and was turned down by all of them. This was one of the most difficult times in my life, because I felt totally rejected by God, I thought he turned his back on me and didn’t care about my future. It’s funny what I perceived as rejection was a vehicle to my blessing. What I considered settling was actually taking me closer to one of my future achievements. How? At my internship, I met my best friend and we began a business together.  Now, I work for a Fortune 100 organization in corporate America in Human Resources where I get to help college graduates get their first job. It’s amazing how the tables have turned. The experience I gained at those two internships helped me get my first position with my current employer. I realized that these hardships were the perfect set up for long-term happiness, growth and success.  When I look back at that moment, I felt hopeless, but in retrospect I learned to be unassuming and humble. God was preparing me for my purpose and still is. He had a specific path designed for me and if I didn’t go through those obstacles I wouldn’t have been appreciative of my current state. There’s a great story behind my career and I don’t take for granted the job I have today. I still face certain challenges that I could easily perceive as rejection but I know they’re instrumental to my destination.

Roadblocks are only barriers if you perceive them as barriers.  It’s a blessing when you’re rejected from that man or woman, job or opportunity that would’ve carried you away from your rightful path.  Rejection is a vehicle to your blessing. You aren’t being denied, in fact, you’re being re-directed. There’s something great waiting for you and it may require a few stops before you get to it. Embrace that most of the time you’re rejected not because you’re the worst but because you deserve the very best. I dare you next time you feel rejected to smile at yourself and say Dear Rejection, thank you.