Shoot Your Shot But You Might Miss

Introduction: When Opportunity Doesn't Knock

In a candid conversation on The Common Nomad podcast, hosts Edward and Priscilla turn their attention to a universal experience: rejection. Episode 8 (Season 1), titled "Shoot Your Shot But You Might Miss," dives into the heart of rebuffs in careers, love, and beyond, unpacking the sensations that follow and strategies for resilience.

Listen to the full episode here: Shoot Your Shot But You Might Miss

7 tips to deal with rejection:

Acknowledge and embrace the emotions: Allow yourself to feel the disappointment, but don't let it consume you. It's a natural part of the process and a step towards recovery.
Build resilience through experience: Understand that going through rejection multiple times can bolster your ability to handle future rejections more effectively.
Get back up quickly: Bounce back from rejection as soon as you can, whether it takes minutes or days, to maintain your momentum towards your goals.
Keep putting yourself out there: Continue to pursue new opportunities with determination, recognizing that each rejection is a learning experience.
Normalization of rejection: Accept that rejection is a common part of life's journey and discuss it openly to reduce its stigma and embarrassment.
Lean on your support system: Depend on friends and family to uplift and reassure you, reminding you of your worth and capabilities.
Reframe rejection as redirection: Shift your perspective to understand that a rejection can be a waypoint, guiding you towards where you need to be rather than where you thought you wanted to go.
Understanding Rejection: A Multi-Stage Process

Understanding Rejection: A Multi-Stage Process

Edward sparks the discussion by underscoring that rejection is not monolithic; it's a nuanced ordeal comprising multiple phases. The third, and pivotal, phase is rebounding from the setback. He emphasizes that while the sting of rejection is both physical and emotional, exposure to it repeatedly hones our ability to withstand the blows. Priscilla nods, adding that a rapid recovery is essential, though "rapid" can range from minutes to days, depending on the individual and the gravity of the rejection faced.

The Career Conundrum: Job Hunting Woes

LinkedIn's achievement showcases feed into our collective fear of rejection, inferring that everyone except us is leaping from success to success. Priscilla admits that the job hunt—the applications sent into the void, the interviews that don’t pan out—is a dispiriting process. Edward chimes in, noting that with experience comes a certain fortitude, "You learn to thicken your skin, not taking professional rejections personally, and moving on to more opportunities."

The Romantic Riddle: Love Lost and Found

"Romantic rejections cut deep," Priscilla muses, but she quickly wonders aloud if there might be other forms of rejection that we underestimate. Edward reflects on the imprints of these often-unspoken rejections, questioning whether a gentle refusal might light a fire of persistence. This discussion segues into the importance of not allowing ego to render us feeling entitled; often, life humbles us by rejecting our best-laid plans for reasons that later reveal themselves as fortuitous redirections.

Support Systems: The Recovery Network

Both hosts unite over the significance of a tender support system. "When you face rejection—say, from a college or a sought-after job—it's your support system that helps you realize it's not the end of the road," Edward asserts. "It's not personal," Priscilla adds, "It's about reminding someone of their worth and their capacity for other, perhaps more fulfilling, opportunities."

Life Beyond the 'No': Rejection as a Norm

Priscilla recounts a personal anecdote of college application anxiety, painting a broader picture of the generational pursuit of higher education and the intensified pressure it harbors. Edward intercedes with the point that while academic and professional aspiration rejections are commonly discussed, there's a myriad of smaller, personal rebuffs we encounter daily. He emphasizes the importance of de-stigmatizing this inevitability, empowering listeners to embrace it as part of life's normal rhythm.

Facing Rejection’s Reflection: A Personal Anecdote

Delving into more personal territory, Edward reflects on the aftermath of job loss, sharing his journey from self-doubt to acceptance. Priscilla resonates with these sentiments, noting that rejection in any form makes us question our desires, often leading to realizations about the true nature of our wants versus needs.

Rejection as Redirection: A Shift in Perspective

The idea of 'rejection as redirection' circles back in the conversation as a compelling shift in mindset. "Maybe the job you didn't get, the program that didn't accept you, it's not a full stop—it's a detour, steering you towards something that aligns more closely with your ultimate path," Edward ruminates, encouraging listeners to view rejection through a different lens.

Conclusion: Rejection, Not Just a Refusal, But a Redirection

The episode culminates with both hosts affirming that talking about rejection, processing it, and owning the feelings it evokes are essential steps in overcoming it. "It's okay to feel hurt, upset, or disappointed," Priscilla concludes, "but it's also okay to look ahead, to see the 'no' as not just a refusal, but a signpost, guiding you to where you're meant to go." As the podcast ends, listeners are left with a new framework for interpreting the closed doors and the untraveled paths—perhaps, as Edward and Priscilla assert, they're not missteps, but necessary strides toward our unique destinations.