Have you ever had the blessing of feeling like you were in the right place doing the right thing? All the feelings of success and validation? What happened next?
Last week I had the privilege of giving a speech to an excellent audience and the connection was solid. I received great feedback and got a couple referrals - that’s the best feedback! It was just the reward I needed. I was elated. On my way home from the event, I wrecked my car - to the point it had to be pieced together in order to limp it home. No one was hurt (well, a deer lost its life, but all evidence points to her wanting to lose it).
Of all the times I could’ve wrecked, did it have to be when I was on this great high? I’ve driven in rural Utah for 26 years and this is the first deer I’ve hit (that’s remarkable odds if you don’t know).
Then, right when I got home, I received an email I’d been waiting for. It included the results of an application I’d sent about six weeks before. The application was for an opportunity I was really hopeful about. Wanna guess the results? Yeah. Rejection. Not just rejection, but some “constructive” explanation of WHY I was rejected.
I’d been waiting for that email for weeks. Again, it appeared right after the high.
These aren’t huge losses, I realize that. But the timing has to be noted.
As I choked back tears that night I stopped myself cold. Wait a second, Heather. This is opposition. I am... worth opposing. Damn straight, I am. I'm a threat!! I straightened up and imagined shouting to my figurative opponent, "Is that all you got?"
Recovery initiated. Check. If it takes a little longer to bounce back that's just fine. Some days we just don't have the bandwidth. Practice has improved my turn-around time.
Losses are unavoidable. But when obstacles hit right after a big win, don’t take it as a sign you’re off-track. Choose to see it as evidence you’re on the right track. Use that resistance - it is necessary for growth.
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