Disappointments. Pesky little things that can derail a person's well-planned life, and yet with the right perspective that sometimes only time and distance can give, a failure can, in fact, morph into valuable insight.
There are a number of sayings that cover the subject of this message. The most recognizable is probably that "every dark cloud has a silver lining". Or, from my fellow Oklahoman, Garth Brooks, "every curse is a blessing and every blessing is a curse." But these platitudes don't make you feel better when you are in the middle of one of those disappointments, and you have to ask yourself, "What do I do with this?" Good news! It's all in how you interpret these setbacks.
As a writer, I've certainly had my share of disappointments, rejection letters, and snubs over the years. I won't lie to you. It hurts, and it made me question myself, both as a writer and as a person. I've had my confidence shattered, and my spirit crushed. I'm confident you've had similar experiences, but thank goodness, (Now, here's where the good news comes in), you can choose how those disappointments impact your life. A failure, or an opportunity to grow? Doesn't that sound better already?
Try this. Make a list, (I'm a big list maker) and list all the disappointments you can remember. If you're middle-aged or older, you may need two sheets of paper. Now, change how you interpret those pesky little disappointments. Instead of thinking that job you didn't get was a missed opportunity, think about the other door that opened for you, and all the opportunities there you would have missed.
And, if you are a writer? How about that rejection letter? Use it as an opportunity to improve your writing. Didn't get the contract you wanted from that fabulous traditional publisher? No worries. Now you have time to become an expert in your craft, learn how to market your book, increase your presence on social media, become a major influencer, and then dream of when the big publishers come knocking on your door!
As you can see, there are so many ways to get where you want to go, and if one door slams in your face (and it will) find another door, window, or hole to climb through, and keep on keepin' on. Grab your dreams by the tail and hang on, because the only thing that can stop you from living your dream life...is YOU!
Here are some of my dreams that have come true...
The Brides of the Rio Grande series available in Kindle Unlimited on Amazon.com
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