While reading the article Lesson 25 stuck out to me since I not too great at handling rejection. I won’t show how upset I may feel, but deep down it would bother me and put me off from trying again. I’m familiar with Stephen King’s and the Beatles’ success through their work, therefore when I read that they were told that they weren’t good enough it made me ponder. I pondered on all the times I’ve tried to do something and wasn’t successful the first time, second time, or even the third time and ended up giving up thinking that I wasn’t capable. The issue is not the obstacle, but overcoming it even when it seems impossible.

Changing my mindset matters; I’m just not there yet instead of I can’t. Another thing that stood out to me in this part of the passage was “keep your rejection letters; paste them to your walls. They are goads, things to prove wrong”. Instead of overlooking the rejection letters to avoid unwanted feelings this is saying to confront it and use the sadness or anger as fuel to drive you to achieve the very thing you were told you couldn’t do. I find this to be inspiring since not only does it shift the narrative, but would lead to success, and be proof that anything I want can happen as long as I try.

Although I now understand that I can accomplish anything as long as I try and try, I also know that not all criticism is bad and there will always be room for improvement. For instance, it’s nothing personal if a friend tells me my paper needs this and that when I asked them for their thoughts. I know that as my friend they want the best for me and by providing a different perspective, its up to me whether or not I decide to listen. It really depends on who is saying it and how they say it. In the end the only person I have to prove myself to is me.