The Art of Accepting Rejection

There's a feeling that hits after you learn you didn't make it to the next round of a competition. It's a small, sinking feeling, and right behind it is a temptation to start telling yourself an outdated story. It sounds like, "I'm never going to make it," or "I'm not good enough." There are so many of them, and they all want to tell you that the rejection is proof of what you always feared.

If you're a writer, you know those kinds of days. Even if you're not, I'm sure on some level you can relate.

I decided to share my journal notes with you, hoping it'll encourage others to reach beyond limiting thoughts and fears. We're writers because of passion, and if we're not sharing our unique perspectives with the world, then the world is missing out on our voice.

I feel vulnerable sharing my journal notes publicly, but here it is, unrevised and straight from the page.

"May 7, 2026 - Yesterday was a growth day.

After learning I wasn't selected to move to the next round of a writing competition, I felt low. For a brief moment, I wanted to judge myself and cry. But then I remembered: the universe still has my back. My path just leads down a different direction.

I affirmed my value as an author and as a person, rather than believing I was cursed yet again, or that my life and my writing career were a failure. I rejected those thoughts and initiated new thoughts.

I affirmed, "I am enough. More than enough. I'm fabulous. I'm a wonderful writer. I'm a successful author. I am talented. This, or something better. Everything is working out for me. I am worthy of all wonderful things because my soul is a spark of the divine. Which means I am a spark of divine life embodied."

I am a unique expression of source. A gift to the world.

It's amazing how positive beliefs diminish the negative ones. Instantly, those beliefs that tell me I'm doomed or question my value as an author disappear. They go silent, and my heart begins to say yes.

I'm not striving for perfection, I'm aiming for expression. To sharpen, refine, and enhance the talent within. I'm striving to become more of me--a storyteller.

I am gifted with the talent and love of writing. It's my haven and solace. This is where my soul comes alive and plays with words. This is where my soul dances within my imagination.

Creativity drives me, and that's not a mistake. That's divine expression.

So those thoughts that are negative are null and void. They died and were replaced with truth. I am a talented writer. Not because a panel told me so, but because every day, I show up and write.

Every day, I study my craft. But most importantly, every day, I trust my heart, and my intuition whispers, Keep writing. Keep telling stories that reflect your unique imagination.

I don't know where my path leads, but I know it's beautiful. I know I am a storyteller with so many characters to share with my readers. My mindset now is to press forward and show up, because that makes my heart happy, to trust the universe to bring those readers to me. Then they can explore new worlds with me, not just through me.

This is my transformation and growth. It feels amazing to leave those old beliefs behind. To reject the fear rather than reject myself.

I am gifted with communication. I know this, and I trust that this will come forward through my stories each time I write another book.

I know that my soul encoded this into my natal chart, and it shows me every single day that if I refuse to believe anything less than my value as an author, my value as a person, then my gift of communication will blossom. My storytelling will grow. My craft will grow. And I will begin to show up for myself—to refine and express.

Today, I don't believe in failure. I believe challenges strengthen us. I believe I'm stronger as an individual and as a writer because they rejected me.

Press on. Keep writing. Keep learning. Believe in myself. And watch how things blossom."

**If you've ever sat with a no, whether from a judging panel, an editor, an agent, or a reader, and felt that old story start to rise, I hope you feel encouraged. And if you've found your own way of rejecting the fear instead of rejecting yourself, leave me a comment. The work is easier when we know we're not doing it alone.