Today’s Mandala Message: Take Nothing Personally
This week I’m working through Principles #17 and #18 from Jack Canfield’s “The Success Principles” entitled “Ask! Ask! Ask!” and “Reject Rejection” respectively. I set my intention today to ponder the idea of not taking rejection personally. Canfield states: “Everyone who has ever made it to the top has had to endure rejections. You just have to realize that they are not personal.”
This is a challenging idea. How do you not take it personally? What I’m coming to realize is that it’s not that “they” rejected _me_, but that “they” selected someone (or something) else that was a better fit for what they needed or wanted.
My biggest opportunity for rejections is with our local community theater. Far more women audition than men, so the chances of being cast in a role are that much slimmer. Those times that I was rejected, I did take it personally and heard my dejected self say “what’s wrong with me”. Thankfully I don’t state in that state for long because when I see the play I see that the directors knew what they were doing and had made wise choices.
Let me clarify, it’s not that I’ve never been cast for any plays, I have and I’m so grateful for when I am. It’s just that the performer in me wants (loves) to be in as many plays as possible. I’ve come to realize that if I want to be in more plays 1) I need to audition more and 2) if I want to be cast in better (more) parts, I need to become a better actor.
If you need help with this concept, check out Eight Ways to Stop Taking Things So Personally on Chadd.org by Caroline Maguire MEd, ACCG, PCC.
So how about you? Do you usually take rejection as personal? Do you later realize that it was the best thing? What do you learn from the rejection?
“There is
— Miguel Ruiz
a huge amount of freedom
that comes to you
when you take
nothing personally.”
Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
All Things Mandalas
An Invitation
I invite you to color along with me this year as part of what I’m calling “The Year of Self-Exploration and Expansion” with all of my “Mandalas of the ___” (day, week, month, year). If you’re interested in more of a self-exploration approach to coloring, check out my “Coloring Mandalas as Meditation”. You can download this mandala at MandalaoftheWeek.com.
Mandala of the Day 