#402 – How do you grow when you dare to be disliked?

Standing bold in a sea of rejection telegraphs: I don't care. Your Ego and the Ghosts then freak out––what? People reject you and you don't care?, running up and down, fanning their faces with their hands, OMG, OMG!

In that moment, if you don't react, you win.

This has many implications and applications:

• Your essay is rejected by that fancy-schmancy magazine because, in their words, it has good rhythm but lacks depth? Ok.
• You vote against a PTA's initiative because you don't believe it's appropriate and the other parents send you incensed glances at drop-off? Ok.
• Your spouse gives you a passive-aggressive response when you ask them to clean up after themselves? A-OK!

And every time you keep your cool, you're telling your Ego and the Ghosts there's nothing to worry about.

Do it enough times and they'll get used to it. One day, your boss will be calling you in her office to lay you off and your Ego won't lift its eyes from its nails, which it's filing, bored, nothing else to do (no fanning, no running).

That's how you grow: once you build a high enough tolerance for rejection and antipathy, you're ready to conquer the world––or at least, your life. And if you want to grow faster, actively find ways to be rejected.

Whose rejection will you seek to continue to strengthen your true self?

Love,

Carolina