One of the most beautiful experiences of writing has been the friendships I have made. Amy Sullivan is wickedly smart, talented with words, and welcomes with open arms and kindness. She gathered up a group of bloggers to join in her #riskrejection challenge this January.
Click here to see Amy’s first risk and read all the link-ups.
I am not a risk-taker. Mainly, because I hate rejection. Rejection, the word makes me want to hide in my bed, covers pulled over my head. People pleasers don’t embrace rejection.
Risking rejection scares me. Something funny has happened every time I have done it. Something stronger emerges deep inside me. I feel God’s arms wrap around me. His relief, you trust me. Life is short. Going deeper, reaching further, listening and not ignoring his voice makes these moments mean something.
I have three risks to share with you.
My first is a simple word that departs from my mouth very slowly.
The word is no. This word scares me, because I feel like its recipient will forever hate me. Maybe, it’s more that I will hate myself for not being able to do it all, for not being perfect, for messing up.
This fall, I committed to helping with Wednesday night nursery at my church. I also took a new day job and am writing a curriculum in the evenings. This semester, I need to admit that I can’t do it. Everything, I can’t do. I want to do everything. I can’t. It’s being honest and trusting that others will honor that. It’s not hating myself for everything I can’t do.
This is a little risk. A little word. Big to me and my heart.
Please come back next Friday. I will share a rejection that I’m willing to try again.
What has risking rejection meant in your life?
What has emerged after you took that leap of faith?Â
About Proximity 
You face your fears every time you post! My favourite phrase at the moment is ‘be strong and courageous’. I call out to my girl, “Be Strong and Courageous!”. I should call that out to myself too! 🙂
Yes! Those words are perfect, thank you Diane 🙂
That word no. It’s such a hard one. I’m quick to avoid it and then end up with far too much on my plate. I am actually working on this… trying to figure out what God wants me to let go of and also taking more time to pray before saying yes or no to something. I’m so glad to be on this #riskrejection journey with you. Cheering you on from here.
Much love,
Beth
I’m thankful to be in such good company too! The no and yes is a hard balance.
It’s not little. It’s a life change. And you are freeing yourself up for God to put beautifully unexpected things in your life. Go!
Little steps led to bigger things right? 🙂
Saying no to someone is super scary for me too. Keeping you in my thoughts this week…. *hug*
You too in your sparkly tights!
That’s a brave thing to do, to choose what is best for yourself. Good for you!! Way to be brave!
Thank you 🙂
I will totally mentor you in this. Here we go.
Nope.
Thanks, but no.
Um, that’s not really me.
No, I don’t have time.
No, I am entirely too busy with my writing career.
No, that sounds awesome, but I can’t. Hit me next time.
Ohhhhh, thank you for thinking of me (insert high pitched voice), but I just can’t.
No is hard, but the more you say it, the easier it will get.
I am really, really am thankful that you took a big risk and met me in Holland and we both found out the other isn’t crazy. Your words and heart are genuine and strong, and God has HUGE things in mind for you. I know it. Seriously. I know these things.
I will be referencing this often 🙂 I was so nervous to meet you! Mostly because I didn’t want you to think I was crazy! I knew in the first second I had somehow known you forever. And thank you for challenging us all to risk rejection.
No is so hard sometimes.
Little word, so hard 🙂
No is hard. Yes is harder, because it requires the acceptance of possibility and growth..
I found when I was young that rejection became a safety net. When I was in high school I styled myself as wildly unpredictable (for instance, I would throw lunch benches onto the head’s office roof – I am not a small person, and this was not hard for me). Girls wanted nothing to do with me, and my male classmates thought I would get them into trouble, and also declined friendship.
So I was safe – and alone. The head actually liked me (except when I blocked the door of his office with a number of heavy objects), and the faculty cast a blind eye…but I was totally separate from my peers, and that absolved me of any need to grow up.
And yes, that was hard to write.
Great perspective as always! It can be easy to hide behind this too. Thank you for sharing that. It will bring encouragement to others, to show your journey and how you write and care for abused dogs with God’s love.
First, love your words here (including the word NO) and praying that you can say NO to the good things (or good people?) so you can say YES to God’s best for you.
Second, Amy’s comment cracks me up. Does she EVER quit? For realz.
Prayers to you in this #riskrejection journey, Lisa!
Amy cracks me up too. Prayers for you too, so excited to follow along.
Lisa, I enjoy your posts very much. You seem like such a kind soul. There are many times my life forces me to say no (where I am now), but I’m starting to understand that we can either do it out of necessity or out of a posture of our heart, like with anything. I guess either can be useful and grow us in the end, but it’s exciting to get to follow along with you as you move toward that risk. 🙂
I love that doing it out of a posture of our heart. That is the perfect way to look at it, and a perspective I will take to heart.
Pingback: his understanding | About Proximity
Pingback: even the imperfect ones | About Proximity
this fear of rejection is huge for me. here is my admission of risk-taking… my fear of rejection or of being disliked, or not as good as … is the one major fear that has kept me from posting on my own blog; which I love soo much. 😦 Sad but true. I will look towards trying some more of this risk-taking behaviour. you are not alone. I am so glad I found your space here ;D
I hear you! It’s so hard! I’m so glad to meet you. Can’t wait to follow your work!