Embrace Rejection

“Without suffering there cannot be happiness.”

— Thich Nhat Hanh

If you don’t know what pain feels like, how can you possibly know pleasure? One is the absence of the other. You have to experience both to know the difference.

And trust me, I am very learned in the world of suffering. I know failure. I am rejection.

So I’ve developed thick skin. I don’t take things too personal these days and it doesn’t bother me so much when I’m forced to suffer. Marinating in rejection is something I can handle okay. I often say my superpower is wallowing in discomfort. I’ve done it for a very long time.

In the art world, rejection is ubiquitous. There’s just too much competition out there. If you’re an artist and you can’t accept rejection, perhaps you should find a different path. Because art is as diverse as it is abundant and not everyone is going to like everything. Our own English proverb reminds us that one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.

And now, as we enter a new year and I apply to juried art festivals and juried gallery shows to build my 2024 schedule, the rejection letters are steady coming in.

One here. Two there. Three around the corner.

Taking them in stride. Because…

For every handful of rejections, I am also finding an invitation to participate! And it is that very pile of rejections that makes the “accepted” invitation stand out. It gives it so much more meaning.

Having such a high ratio of rejections to acceptations also reminds me that the quality of work out there must be high! So if the quality of work is so high and somehow the judges find mine to be worthy of inclusion, then I must be going in the right direction. At least.

Many of you know that this blog often serves as a reminder to myself of how to actually do things. I would be well advised to take my own advice. So now I will.

Rejection is just part of being an artist. It’s a part of life. Rejection is not to be shunned or ignored or even pined over. It’s to be embraced.

Embrace it for a short bit. Then move on.

Repeat as needed.

And when that “accepted” letter rolls in, remember that because of the existence of “rejection”, we now find ourselves elated.

Can you relate to how rejection helps balance life experiences? Tell me in the comments!