There’s an old adage that goes, “Rejection is protection.” Well, if that’s true, then I must be incredibly protected because these past few months, starting back in July, have been filled with some major career rejections. And I won’t lie—it hurts! Each one stings just as much as the last, no matter how many times I tell myself it’s part of the process.

It’s hard not to let your excitement build when you think you’re close to something you’ve worked so hard for. When you can almost taste that victory and feel like your next big step is right around the corner, only to have it slip away. One rejection that still sticks with me happened a few years ago when I was interviewing for a position at a bank. I made it all the way to the third interview—weeks of prep, stress, and hope all wrapped into this moment. But then, radio silence. I waited and waited, hearing nothing for weeks. The recruiter finally reached out and told me to reapply, so I did. Same thing—more weeks of silence. I eventually reached out to check on the status, only to find out that the position had been put on pause. The way my heart dropped! I was devastated, letting myself dream about working there, visualizing myself in that new role. When it didn’t work out, I felt like the universe had turned its back on me, like I’d lost my mojo or something.

But today, I look at rejection differently. Instead of letting it tear me down for good, I’ve learned to lean into it. As Cardi B famously said, “Knock me down nine times, but I get up ten!” That’s the energy I’m embracing—never give up, because on that 10th time, everything can change.

The thing is, sometimes we want something so badly, but the universe has a different plan for us. And while that can be hard to accept in the moment, it’s often true. Maybe that job wasn’t right for me. Maybe there’s something bigger, something better just around the corner. I think Buddhism teaches us to use rejection as motivation, to turn those “no’s” into fuel for our next steps. I’ve started to see rejection not as a sign of failure, but as a redirection toward something more aligned with my purpose.

So, what I say to you—and to myself—is this: Keep pressing on. Don’t lose faith just because you’ve hit a roadblock. Rejection is hard, but it’s not the end. It’s just part of the journey, and sometimes, it’s the push we need to keep going. The universe has a funny way of working things out, even if we can’t see it in the moment.

And who knows? That 10th time could be the breakthrough we’ve been waiting for.