Rejection sucks, right?

No, it doesn’t – not really. We all certainly like to be affirmed by others, it can let us know that we’re on the right track – right?

Wrong again. When we’re approved of by others, really, it just means that we’ve appealed to, or conformed to, the idea that we are doing what they feel we should be doing.

Okay, admittedly, I have gotten ahead of myself, and the above is only partially, or sometimes, true. In other cases, someone may be recognizing your true unique qualities, your genius in perspective.

The above quote is a copybite of a rejection letter received by Andy Warhol with his submission of a painting. To be rhetorical – I wonder if he was devastated by this rejection.

There are different types of rejections. One, it’s the non-response, then comes the form-response, and then comes the sweetest, the personalized-response. All three can come without any knowledge of why that method of rejection was chosen, but submission-policies, or our ignorance of them, can have a big play on at least the first one. That’s right, the dreaded slush-pile is not exclusive to our word-crafters in this world. Both the first and the second responses are the least helpful to the artist hoping for guidance, but no one that may be an ally to you and your work is required by duty to please you with a thoughtful, hand-written response. The third response comes with someone who is willing to share their thoughts, and that’s awesome, even if scathing. Know this much about all forms of rejection – all three bring with them a gift, a gift of challenge. This challenge can make you a better artist. It should make one want to be greater, better, perfect even, even if it is perfectly unrecognized. Let those who reject you go on their merry way, as you go on yours. Hate not, for you may just meet again, and when you do, it could be that you are both now ready to share something extremely special, or not.

Remember, you only need to achieve your best in each moment, and need only do this for yourself. Let rejection serve you, it cannot beat you. Trying to force yourself onto the world is like trying to squeeze water in the palm of your hand…