Handling rejection as well as praise

By Hanna Shiferaw

It is inevitable that we deal with rejection as well as praise, as long as we live with people. People have their own standers and values to grade the performances of others. Each suggestion given by others reflects different stand points.  

Because of the reason that these suggestions have something to do with the look we build towards ourselves, especially related to our self confidence, we need to learn how to handle them properly so that we can use them for the best of benefit. If not properly handled, the first one (rejection) creates loss of confidence while the other (praise) creates over confidence which results in us to do things below performance.

In my opinion, to do anything in your life, first of all you need to know yourself better. You need to know your strengths and weaknesses. Based on that you should set your goals and standards. Those standards and goals should be the ones which lead you throughout your ways, not what people give suggestions about you or what you do.

Sometimes people who have lots of potential fall down because of the praise others give them. Why? Even though praise by itself is a positive thing, it needs proper management. Unfortunately, they lack to give the proper place for the praise they get. They let it to influence their thoughts by making them to see themselves as they achieved everything and think they are better than others. This is called over confidence. This is a very dangerous thought which makes people to stop struggling in making themselves a better person, which results in reducing performance and finally falling down.

Rejection on the other side creates loss of confidence if not taken with enough care and attention. It is good to be challenged by others, because it gives you a different perspective to see things from different directions. However, you have to limit the extent it affects you. If you take it as deep as it makes you lose your confidence and courage, this is a problem which needs serious treatment.

Therefore, know yourself well. As any human being, you have your own strong and weak sides that God has imprinted in you. If you need to know yourself better, nobody knows you as God do. Consult him. He will show you the strengths you ever think you have. Based on them plan your goals. Set your standards. Work to reach your goals. Your initial goals determine your success, not the praise or rejection of others. Success is always measured by the achievement of goals. What was your goal for the activities you have done? Do you get what you want? That is the measurement of success.

Take care of the over confidence by the praise of others or the loss of confidence by the rejection or criticisms you get. Just give them the appropriate place and pass. Ask God to help you in this. He definitely will. That is his character; making people the best they can be.

He\Jesus\ said "......My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.”John 10:10