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Jan. 15, 2025

Embracing Rejection: Transforming Setbacks into Stepping Stones 236

Embracing Rejection: Transforming Setbacks into Stepping Stones 236

Rejection is a universal experience that everyone faces, but it doesn't have to define us. By sharing personal stories and practical advice, this episode emphasizes that rejection often leads to growth and resilience, ultimately shaping our paths for the better. 

• Discusses the nature of rejection and its emotional impact 
• Highlights the importance of uncomfortable conversations in personal growth 
• Shares impressive statistics on podcast growth and audience engagement 
• Recounts personal experiences of rejection in relationships and business 
• Explores the link between rejection, ambition, and resilience 
• Draws inspiration from Garth Brooks’ "Unanswered Prayers" as a lesson in perspective 
• Encourages listeners to view rejection as a catalyst for growth 
• Offers practical advice on processing rejection and learning from failures 
• Reinforces the importance of community support in navigating life’s struggles

Can rejection be the key to unexpected growth and transformation? Join me on this heartfelt journey as we unravel the complexity of rejection and uncover its hidden potential to fuel resilience and personal development.  We'll explore the choice between simply enduring hardships or harnessing them as stepping stones toward something greater. Whether it's an uncomfortable conversation or a significant professional setback, embracing these challenges can lead to clarity and newfound strength.

Reflecting on Garth Brooks' poignant lyrics, we discuss how unanswered prayers can be life's greatest gifts. Sometimes, not getting what we wish for leads to unexpected blessings. By processing these experiences with hope and integrity, we can find gratitude for our current circumstances and trust in a promising future.

If you found value in today's show please return the favor and leave a positive review and share it with someone important to you! https://www.sharethestrugglepodcast.com/reviews/new/
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Chapters

00:01 - The Power of Rejection and Growth

16:03 - Resilience Through Rejection

26:46 - The Power of Resilience in Rejection

31:46 - Overcoming Rejection and Finding Resilience

40:59 - Finding Gratitude in Unanswered Prayers

Transcript
WEBVTT

00:00:01.965 --> 00:00:03.208
have you ever been rejected?

00:00:03.208 --> 00:00:05.814
She didn't want to go to prom with you.

00:00:05.814 --> 00:00:09.201
The promotion went to someone other than you.

00:00:09.201 --> 00:00:12.667
A best friend said we are through.

00:00:12.667 --> 00:00:15.131
Well, cheer up, buttercup.

00:00:15.131 --> 00:00:20.585
I'm here to tell you that maybe rejection is what's best for you.

00:00:20.585 --> 00:00:26.393
And surprise, surprise, garth bro agrees with me too.

00:00:26.393 --> 00:00:29.481
Let me tell you something Everybody struggles.

00:00:29.481 --> 00:00:34.960
The difference is some people choose to go through it and some choose to grow through it.

00:00:34.960 --> 00:00:37.365
The choice is completely yours.

00:00:37.365 --> 00:00:43.283
Which one you choose will have a very profound effect on the way you live your life.

00:00:43.283 --> 00:00:51.024
If you find strength in the struggle, then this podcast is for you.

00:00:53.128 --> 00:00:57.895
Do you have a relationship that is comfortable with uncomfortable conversations?

00:00:57.895 --> 00:01:03.670
Uncomfortable conversations challenge you, humble you and they build you.

00:01:03.670 --> 00:01:07.939
When you sprinkle a little time and distance on it, and they build you.

00:01:07.939 --> 00:01:11.875
When you sprinkle a little time and distance on it, it all makes sense.

00:01:11.875 --> 00:01:22.552
Most disagreements, they stem from our own insecurities.

00:01:22.552 --> 00:01:24.474
You are right where you need to be.

00:01:24.474 --> 00:01:30.283
One time we could fly towards the sky the whole day.

00:01:30.283 --> 00:01:33.397
Gone, falling behind.

00:01:33.397 --> 00:01:35.129
We'll rest in our way to the sky.

00:01:35.129 --> 00:01:35.632
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.

00:01:35.632 --> 00:01:40.210
What it do, what it hot Diddity do, get loud.

00:01:40.210 --> 00:01:44.370
Am I so excited to be back with you?

00:01:44.370 --> 00:01:47.328
Oh, it's true, it's damn true.

00:01:47.328 --> 00:01:51.183
I miss you, boo, I miss you.

00:01:51.183 --> 00:01:53.165
I miss you, baby boo.

00:01:53.165 --> 00:01:53.828
Look at you.

00:01:53.828 --> 00:01:56.629
Oh, thanks for coming on back.

00:01:56.688 --> 00:02:17.560
Y'all, thanks for tuning in, thanks for listening Episode 236 of that podcast, that podcast that is proudly brought to you by the fine folks over at Loud Proud American, aka myself and my wife and my mama and my baby you know my baby mama, you know what I'm saying.

00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:27.763
Either way, sponsored by, brought to you by Loud Proud American, the podcast that is perfectly precisely beautifully named Share the struggle.

00:02:27.763 --> 00:02:30.251
Because, as we know, boys and girls, everybody struggles.

00:02:30.251 --> 00:02:33.509
And today we have some more struggles on tap for you.

00:02:33.509 --> 00:02:36.669
Today we're going to talk about rejection with you.

00:02:36.669 --> 00:02:43.370
Y'all been turned down, y'all been put down, y'all been beat down, told to turn around.

00:02:43.370 --> 00:02:46.848
You understand, I know it's true because I've been through it too.

00:02:46.848 --> 00:02:50.631
We've all had a little mud rubbed in our face.

00:02:50.631 --> 00:02:53.868
We've had our noses put in the poo-poo.

00:02:53.868 --> 00:03:00.923
I don't know, they still do that in puppy training Dogs' noses in poo-poo and beep.

00:03:00.923 --> 00:03:01.743
I don't know, I'm an idiot.

00:03:01.743 --> 00:03:02.604
I don't know where I'm going here.

00:03:02.604 --> 00:03:06.390
The point is we're going to talk about getting our hopes up.

00:03:06.390 --> 00:03:09.895
We're going to talk about putting a little too much hope into an outcome.

00:03:09.895 --> 00:03:15.858
We're going to talk about getting too excited about the potential of something, only to be let down by something.

00:03:15.858 --> 00:03:22.731
We're going to talk about that little something today, but before we do, I want to share with you some stats y'all.

00:03:22.731 --> 00:03:28.362
We're going to get things going on a statistical note today.

00:03:28.383 --> 00:03:48.311
Last week we opened up the podcast with me kind of going on an impromptu ramble about the show and about the ability to continue to grow the show, to keep the show active and blossoming and flowing, and that if I didn't hear from enough people over the course of the next few months, maybe I'd have to rethink and reconfigure the show, do things a little bit different.

00:03:48.311 --> 00:03:51.568
So, with that in mind, I wanted to share a few things to you.

00:03:51.568 --> 00:03:56.026
We're making some attempts to make some changes on the marketing side of the show.

00:03:56.026 --> 00:04:03.824
If you are a fan of the website, wwwsharethestrugglepodcastcom, it now includes a blog.

00:04:03.824 --> 00:04:11.921
I've been going back through trying to update previous episodes with a little blog post In turn.

00:04:11.921 --> 00:04:14.247
For those of you that already listen to the show it's out there.

00:04:14.247 --> 00:04:24.230
For people that don't listen that maybe it just increases the likelihood of them finding the show, but I think it's a nice little synopsis of the show.

00:04:24.230 --> 00:04:35.406
So if y'all are day one listeners you've been listening since the first episode you could go through some of these notes, maybe identify some of your favorite shows that you want to go back and listen to or you want to share with a friend.

00:04:35.406 --> 00:04:46.793
Or if you're new to the show maybe this is your first time listening then I thank you, welcome, welcome aboard this little love ride to Valhalla that we all be on right now.

00:04:46.793 --> 00:04:48.865
Thank you, welcome in.

00:04:48.865 --> 00:04:49.829
Thanks for tuning in.

00:04:49.829 --> 00:04:57.074
If you head on over to the podcast and you click on that blog section, you're going to find some extended show notes about previous messages.

00:04:57.074 --> 00:05:01.170
I don't have all of them on there yet, but there's probably a good 40 or so episodes.

00:05:01.170 --> 00:05:08.115
40 or so episodes where, if you cruise through some of those little catalogs, you might identify an episode that you feel like you need to go back to, to listen to.

00:05:08.115 --> 00:05:11.449
That you might get a little hope from, a little motivation from.

00:05:11.449 --> 00:05:12.954
So that's one of the changes.

00:05:13.014 --> 00:05:25.752
But to get back on track here, I want to share some stats with y'all, because I got some information from Spotify, which Spotify just happens to be one of the preferred players of all y'all listeners.

00:05:25.752 --> 00:05:28.202
Okay, so for those of you listening on Spotify.

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These stats are going to reflect you and your, your listening tendencies.

00:05:33.634 --> 00:05:37.052
Y'all ready for some quick, hidden fun facts about Spotify?

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All right, here's the deal.

00:05:38.838 --> 00:05:48.452
Over the year of 2024, for share the struggle podcast, we saw a 23% increase in followers.

00:05:48.452 --> 00:05:56.891
Yeah, oh, y'all should be celebrating 23% gain in followers.

00:05:56.891 --> 00:05:58.574
That sounds real good to me.

00:05:58.574 --> 00:05:59.701
Y'all, that sounds good to me.

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I expected 2% from your big ass.

00:06:02.646 --> 00:06:06.954
Hey, why would I insult myself on a joke?

00:06:06.954 --> 00:06:12.512
Either way, it's not true, because my wife definitely tells me that I don't have a big ass.

00:06:12.512 --> 00:06:13.744
It's quite the opposite.

00:06:13.744 --> 00:06:16.185
When you ask my wife, here's a fun fact for you.

00:06:16.185 --> 00:06:22.533
She and the Struggle Podcast in the year 2024 was streamed in five countries.

00:06:22.533 --> 00:06:25.447
Take it or leave it five countries.

00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:37.833
Do you guys happen to know, do you gals happen to know, the most popular age range for the show?

00:06:37.833 --> 00:06:40.329
Do you care to take any guesses out there?

00:06:40.329 --> 00:06:50.904
Well, by a total of 44%, the average listener of Shades Circle Podcast happens to be between the ages of 35 and 54.

00:06:50.904 --> 00:06:55.394
So 44% of our listeners are between the ages of 35 and 44.

00:06:55.394 --> 00:07:04.935
Another little fun fact for you 53% of our current listeners are new listeners to the show.

00:07:04.935 --> 00:07:30.649
I thought this was kind of a crazy statistic because I've heard from so many of you day ones, you loyal ones that have been here forever, that have that relationship with me of connecting and reconnecting over episodes and, you know, bouncing ideas and provoking conversation, so it was really interesting to me to realize that, in all actuality, the greater portion of our listeners are new.

00:07:30.649 --> 00:07:36.634
We gained you beautiful, loyal listeners over the year 2024.

00:07:36.634 --> 00:07:39.488
So, thank you, I appreciate you.

00:07:39.488 --> 00:07:40.959
Welcome to this journey.

00:07:41.180 --> 00:07:50.880
If you are new on this journey, don't forget, because you're listening on Spotify, you can go all the way back and you can start listening to episode one when it all begun in 2020.

00:07:50.880 --> 00:07:53.065
Okay, I think it'd be great to do.

00:07:53.065 --> 00:08:02.964
I like to go back to some of the old episodes when I'm looking for a little um, you know, reminiscing, or sometimes there's some subjects that I just feel like I'd like to drive home.

00:08:02.964 --> 00:08:07.004
There's a conversation that I'd like to, you know, get back involved with.

00:08:07.004 --> 00:08:08.370
I'll go back to some of those episodes.

00:08:08.370 --> 00:08:11.187
So 53% of y'all are new.

00:08:11.187 --> 00:08:12.209
I appreciate you.

00:08:12.752 --> 00:08:24.625
Now, the last amount of stats that I'm going to give today, before we get into our meat and bananas of the day, is we're going to get into our top show fans is we're going to get into our top show fans.

00:08:24.625 --> 00:08:26.867
I think I did a horrible job of explaining that.

00:08:26.867 --> 00:08:31.370
What Spotify does is they categorize shows.

00:08:31.370 --> 00:08:43.038
If you are a Spotify listener and you know I'm talking to you right now you get a little thing called a wrapped at the end of the year and this is kind of what we're going over for a Share the Struggle podcast.

00:08:43.038 --> 00:08:50.267
But it'll show you all your listening tendencies, whether it's a music or podcast.

00:08:50.267 --> 00:08:52.676
It'll tell you who your favorite artists are, like your top 10, your top five and your number one artist.

00:08:52.676 --> 00:09:06.450
Right, like, if you, the person that you listen to all the frigging time on your Spotify account is Chris Stapleton, he's going to come up number one, okay, the number one podcast that you listen to, the number five, the top 10.

00:09:07.171 --> 00:09:19.614
With that being said, I want to break down the amount of Spotify listeners that have share the struggle podcast in their tippity top of shows they listen to.

00:09:19.614 --> 00:09:29.095
You guys ready, all right, the amount of people that have Shared the Struggle podcast as their top 10.

00:09:29.095 --> 00:09:36.025
We are in your top 10 favorite podcasts 35.

00:09:36.025 --> 00:09:40.532
35 people have us in the top 10.

00:09:40.532 --> 00:09:42.759
10, bobby.

00:09:42.759 --> 00:09:54.714
How many people do you think have Sharedless Circle Podcasts in their top five, their top five most listened to things on the whole entire catalog of Spotify.

00:09:54.714 --> 00:10:01.349
29 people, y'all, 29 of you, have us in your top five.

00:10:02.679 --> 00:10:08.753
Now the true question about superior fandom, the loyal ones, get your ones up.

00:10:08.753 --> 00:10:17.315
How many have a Share the Struggle podcast as their number one listen on Spotify?

00:10:17.315 --> 00:10:25.301
The number one, the great one, the only one, the important one, the one you ready?

00:10:25.301 --> 00:10:28.948
You think it's over five, do you?

00:10:28.948 --> 00:10:30.452
Of course it is.

00:10:30.452 --> 00:10:31.421
You think it's over 10?

00:10:31.421 --> 00:10:40.153
Yeah, it is 15, one, five, one, five, 10 plus five, 15.

00:10:40.153 --> 00:10:42.623
Say it again Five, 10, 15.

00:10:42.623 --> 00:10:43.966
Boom, who's your friend?

00:10:43.966 --> 00:10:45.128
15.

00:10:45.128 --> 00:10:55.423
We have 15 of you beautiful, loyal listeners out there in the land of Spotify that have Share the Circle podcast as their number one show.

00:10:57.527 --> 00:10:58.869
Oh, here he is again.

00:10:58.869 --> 00:11:00.692
Yeah, he be clapping.

00:11:00.692 --> 00:11:02.736
Oh, thank you.

00:11:02.736 --> 00:11:03.298
Thank you.

00:11:03.298 --> 00:11:04.761
You're beautiful.

00:11:04.761 --> 00:11:06.589
You know what you were so beautiful.

00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:17.769
I don't care what your mama and your daddy must say about you, your brother, your sister, your cousin, your significant other, I don't care your boss, your friend, your cousin's friend.

00:11:17.769 --> 00:11:30.065
I don't care what they have to say, because what I got to say is you're beautiful and I love you and I appreciate you and I thank you for listening and I really truly hope you share this show with someone you know.

00:11:30.065 --> 00:11:31.566
Okay, let's grow it.

00:11:31.566 --> 00:11:32.586
Let's grow it.

00:11:32.586 --> 00:11:33.106
You know it.

00:11:33.106 --> 00:11:33.908
Here's the thing.

00:11:33.908 --> 00:11:44.456
I should go back and listen and look and find how many people had us in their top 10, 5, and number 1 last year.

00:11:44.456 --> 00:11:45.876
I got to look that up.

00:11:45.876 --> 00:11:46.378
It's somewhere.

00:11:46.378 --> 00:11:52.178
I should have better prepared myself for today's show and done that research before, but I didn't.

00:11:52.219 --> 00:11:58.850
Okay, I want to kind of see what our increase is, but I also wanted to encourage each and every one of you.

00:11:58.850 --> 00:12:04.511
There's 35 of you that has Shared the Circle podcast in their top 10.

00:12:04.511 --> 00:12:06.200
There is 29 in our top 5, and there's 15 of you that has Share the Circle podcast in their top 10.

00:12:06.200 --> 00:12:09.028
There is 29 in our top five and there's 15 of you that this is your absolute favorite show.

00:12:09.028 --> 00:12:15.605
That means, I think, we are worthy of a share for our show, don't you agree?

00:12:15.605 --> 00:12:20.573
If you were one of the 35, please come alive.

00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:22.503
Share online.

00:12:22.503 --> 00:12:27.394
I'm sure you have a wrapped you know icon.

00:12:27.394 --> 00:12:29.768
You have the whole synopsis in your email.

00:12:29.768 --> 00:12:31.668
If you go look, you'll find it on your Spotify.

00:12:31.668 --> 00:12:35.570
You can share your favorite shows, share them up, tag us up.

00:12:35.570 --> 00:12:36.231
Let it rip.

00:12:36.231 --> 00:12:37.664
Share this show.

00:12:37.664 --> 00:12:45.193
There's 15 of you out there that love us so, ever loving much that we are your number one, most listened to show.

00:12:45.193 --> 00:12:47.783
Share that shit with someone you know.

00:12:47.783 --> 00:12:50.110
Tell them you love this, put us up.

00:12:50.519 --> 00:12:55.111
I want to see how many of you have us as your number one that are willing to share the show.

00:12:55.111 --> 00:12:58.850
Post it on our socials, send it to us somewhere, tag us up.

00:12:58.850 --> 00:13:00.206
Let it rip, baby.

00:13:00.206 --> 00:13:02.548
Because of each and every one of you, we are back.

00:13:02.548 --> 00:13:04.841
Episode two, 3, 6.

00:13:04.841 --> 00:13:33.485
Because of all of you, you loyal listeners, we consecutively, week after week, tune in, dial in and line up to win another Wednesday Gotcha, spin around and tackle so much more than that.

00:13:33.524 --> 00:13:33.985
Ladies.

00:13:33.985 --> 00:13:38.094
Kick this mind of business for the kids.

00:13:38.094 --> 00:13:40.469
Have you ever been rejected?

00:13:40.469 --> 00:13:42.927
She didn't want to go to prom with you.

00:13:42.927 --> 00:13:46.471
The promotion went to someone other than you.

00:13:46.471 --> 00:13:50.628
A best friend said we are through Well.

00:13:50.628 --> 00:13:58.448
Cheer up, buttercup, because I'm here to tell you that maybe, just maybe, rejection is what's best for you.

00:13:58.448 --> 00:14:01.495
Oh, it's true, it's damn true.

00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:15.830
Today, on Share the Struggle Podcast, I want to come hard and fast at rejection, what it means, how it feels, how we handle it and how we grow from it, because the truth is, when we struggle, we share it.

00:14:15.830 --> 00:14:22.532
We don't go through it, we grow through it, and I know each and every one of you listening has been rejected.

00:14:22.532 --> 00:14:26.311
I've been rejected many, many damn times in my life before.

00:14:26.311 --> 00:14:28.904
Rejection comes in all different flavors.

00:14:28.904 --> 00:14:31.192
It comes in all different shapes and sizes.

00:14:31.192 --> 00:14:36.892
When you hear the word rejection, we often think about I asked her to prom and she said no.

00:14:36.892 --> 00:14:40.386
I asked him on a date and he said hell, no.

00:14:41.048 --> 00:14:44.221
We often think about rejection when it comes to a relationship.

00:14:44.221 --> 00:14:49.734
We either finally built up the confidence to ask the question and we were just kicked right in the gonads.

00:14:49.734 --> 00:14:55.530
You know we are putting ourselves out there and it's just being sent right the hell back.

00:14:55.530 --> 00:14:59.304
Return to sender no person, no such address.

00:14:59.304 --> 00:15:02.668
Isn't that a Elvis song?

00:15:02.668 --> 00:15:04.346
Return to sender.

00:15:04.346 --> 00:15:05.884
Return to sender.

00:15:05.884 --> 00:15:09.547
Return to sender no, no, no, I don't know.

00:15:09.547 --> 00:15:13.428
It's way off track here.

00:15:13.428 --> 00:15:21.125
We've all been kicked in the bricks, okay, boys, girls, chipmunks and squirrels, we've all been kicked in the bricks.

00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:27.080
When I think about rejection, it's very easy to go back to our younger days, right?

00:15:27.080 --> 00:15:28.806
Maybe you're listening and you are a young lad.

00:15:28.806 --> 00:15:30.330
You're a wee little young lady.

00:15:30.330 --> 00:15:36.590
Welcome to the show, young lady, if you haven't been rejected, you're going to be rejected.

00:15:36.590 --> 00:15:38.727
The first thing we think about is those relationship things.

00:15:38.727 --> 00:15:38.908
Right?

00:15:38.908 --> 00:15:41.322
Let's put a little question out there.

00:15:41.322 --> 00:15:50.111
How many of you in the room have asked somebody out on a date, asked somebody to be in a relationship, maybe asked somebody to marry you, and they say the hell no to you?

00:15:50.111 --> 00:15:53.235
How many Pull the audience show of hands in the room?

00:15:53.235 --> 00:15:56.506
Okay, everybody's hand is up right now.

00:15:56.506 --> 00:15:58.852
Okay, because you've been turned down.

00:15:58.852 --> 00:16:01.214
I guarantee it, you've been turned down.

00:16:01.214 --> 00:16:03.575
That's the first thing we think about when we think about rejection.

00:16:03.934 --> 00:16:05.855
But it's not just about relationships.

00:16:05.855 --> 00:16:08.635
It's about all phases and facets of life.

00:16:08.635 --> 00:16:15.259
We've been rejected, we've been turned down, we've been denied, we've been cut off, right?

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:17.120
I mean, I've been cut off at the bar to see was that rejection?

00:16:17.120 --> 00:16:17.881
Is that the truth?

00:16:17.881 --> 00:16:19.684
Hey you, sir, you're done.

00:16:19.684 --> 00:16:23.110
You're done drinking here, man, you're cut off.

00:16:23.110 --> 00:16:24.451
I've definitely been cut off.

00:16:24.451 --> 00:16:26.195
Okay, but that's.

00:16:26.195 --> 00:16:27.302
We don't want to bring that up right now.

00:16:27.302 --> 00:16:28.024
We're not talking about that.

00:16:29.408 --> 00:16:58.471
If the simple thing to think about is being rejected when it comes to a relationship level, let's open our eyes, let's let's peel back the onion a little bit and think about all other layers and areas of our life where we've been turned down, where we've been been rejected, because I have a positive message for each and every one of you, because I'm willing to share it with you, and the truth is, rejection might be what's best for you, because rejection shows what you are made of.

00:16:58.471 --> 00:17:03.831
Rejection reveals things about you that you did not know about you.

00:17:03.831 --> 00:17:08.623
Reveals things about you that you did not know about you.

00:17:08.623 --> 00:17:19.644
What's crazy about rejection is that there's probably a multitude of times in your life where you've experienced rejection, maybe a similar degree of rejection, and you handled all of those situations, all of those opportunities, differently, right.

00:17:19.644 --> 00:17:23.993
When I was a younger man and I had that, you know first time breakup.

00:17:23.993 --> 00:17:31.749
You know the girl that breaks your heart, the first girlfriend that says you I've come to realization, are a dirtbag, I'm done with you.

00:17:31.749 --> 00:17:33.113
That hurts, right.

00:17:33.113 --> 00:17:40.883
Or even on the smaller level, when you're a little bit younger than that, the first time you ask somebody out and they say no, that rejection.

00:17:40.883 --> 00:17:42.630
You handle those things differently, right.

00:17:43.401 --> 00:17:57.236
When I was a younger dude and I went through those breakups, I had this philosophy that I came across along the way, that I taught myself that was absolutely ridiculous and the complete wrong way to handle things, but it's how I did it.

00:17:57.236 --> 00:17:58.130
What did I do?

00:17:58.130 --> 00:18:02.891
I submerged myself in the depths of hell.

00:18:02.891 --> 00:18:04.884
Okay, no other way to put it.

00:18:04.884 --> 00:18:14.906
I made myself as miserable as I possibly could be, and then I would get to that floor, the ground floor of misery, and then it was nothing but a rebound for me.

00:18:14.906 --> 00:18:22.446
You understand, I didn't just bounce from my feet like a freaking Peter Cottontail, I went to the depths of misery.

00:18:22.446 --> 00:18:24.667
I submerged myself in depression.

00:18:24.667 --> 00:18:26.041
How do I do this?

00:18:26.041 --> 00:18:35.646
Well, try being alone with yourself, isolation, playing the most depressing, ridiculous breakup songs, country songs.

00:18:36.269 --> 00:18:47.086
Maybe when you're a little bit older, you tip into the booze a little bit and you just wallow in self-pity Because you feel like, if I can make myself feel absolutely miserable at some point, there's this shining light.

00:18:47.086 --> 00:19:02.144
I'm going to come crashing through, because I'm going to start off listening to the most depressing, ridiculous stuff and eventually I'm going to have the Kool-Aid man moment when I'm just going to bust in the wall and go, oh, yeah, and then I'm back, okay, and everything is up for me.

00:19:02.144 --> 00:19:14.184
Ladies and gentlemen, I do not recommend you use that philosophy, but what I'm trying to paint you for a picture here is the way I handled that rejection 20, 30 years ago.

00:19:14.184 --> 00:19:19.013
God, you're getting old, so are your balls Old balls.

00:19:19.013 --> 00:19:23.003
That was disgusting, but it was funny.

00:19:23.003 --> 00:19:26.568
I just saw Christmas ornaments.

00:19:26.568 --> 00:19:29.853
It looked like there's a ball going around my Christmas tree.

00:19:29.853 --> 00:19:31.714
It just happened.

00:19:31.776 --> 00:19:36.144
Okay, I apologize, lord, I apologize, but you handle rejection differently.

00:19:36.144 --> 00:19:47.171
I can handle rejection differently now than I did before, because we don't just go through those things, we grow through those things and rejection shows you what you're made of right.

00:19:47.171 --> 00:19:56.289
And there's a lot of instances in life where, in the middle of that situation, you feel like the end of the world is near.

00:19:56.289 --> 00:20:00.089
You feel like it just can't get any shittier.

00:20:00.089 --> 00:20:04.008
Okay, pour me some bourbon and put on some misery.

00:20:04.008 --> 00:20:05.230
This is the end of me.

00:20:05.230 --> 00:20:16.393
But the truth is, like we've always said, when you sprinkle a little time and distance on it, it all makes sense, and far too often that rejection leads you to a greater opportunity.

00:20:16.393 --> 00:20:24.813
That rejection from some shitbag leads you into some beautiful, amazing guiding light that changes your freaking life.

00:20:24.813 --> 00:20:25.795
And that is true.

00:20:25.795 --> 00:20:29.550
I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's absolutely true.

00:20:30.942 --> 00:20:36.147
Now we're going to file away the relationship portion of this conversation and we're going to come back to it in a few short minutes.

00:20:36.147 --> 00:20:45.824
All right, we're going to transition off to something else here, because, as we begin to further this discussion on rejection, I don't want to just focus solely on relationships.

00:20:45.824 --> 00:20:48.631
I want to think about different areas of our life.

00:20:48.631 --> 00:20:55.642
Let's think about those of you that, hey, maybe you're like me, maybe you started a business and you're putting yourself out there.

00:20:55.642 --> 00:20:57.566
You're applying for events.

00:20:57.566 --> 00:21:11.212
Shoot, I've been in business for five years now and I apply to an event at least one event every year that says nope, I don't want you here, you're not a good fit, you're not you know, insert excuse here.

00:21:11.212 --> 00:21:14.407
You're not professional enough, you're not the right mix for us.

00:21:14.407 --> 00:21:17.463
Whatever it is right, I get rejected all the time by certain events.

00:21:17.463 --> 00:21:19.648
Sometimes it stings a little bit.

00:21:19.648 --> 00:21:24.250
I'm getting better at processing, accepting that, that rejection and just moving on.

00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:33.150
Now, if you are a small business owner and you're putting yourself out there, you're asking for jobs, you're asking for opportunities.

00:21:33.150 --> 00:21:34.987
You're going to get turned down a lot.

00:21:34.987 --> 00:21:43.010
You're offering your services out there, you're bidding on jobs, you're quoting jobs and you continue to be told no, no, no, no.

00:21:43.010 --> 00:21:45.644
This is what I'm doing, this is where I'm going.

00:21:45.644 --> 00:21:49.767
Anybody but you, you have to deal with that projection.

00:21:49.767 --> 00:21:51.984
Maybe you're in sales.

00:21:51.984 --> 00:22:00.148
Every time you make that sales pitch, you make that presentation on whatever that infamous, fantastic, beautiful product it is that you're trying to sell.

00:22:00.148 --> 00:22:10.402
At the end of that little presentation that hoopla that you know just fantastic little spiel you went on and you ask for the sale far more times than not.

00:22:10.402 --> 00:22:11.586
You're going to be told no.

00:22:11.586 --> 00:22:14.720
You're going to be rejected more often than you are accepted.

00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:18.931
You're going to get denied more often than you are approved.

00:22:20.474 --> 00:22:23.644
So we're talking about sales, we're talking about small business.

00:22:23.644 --> 00:22:27.432
We're talking about maybe you're looking for a promotion at work.

00:22:27.432 --> 00:22:30.569
Maybe you're applying for that promotion.

00:22:30.569 --> 00:22:38.308
You've been with the company for X amount of years and this opportunity comes up and you're perfect for it and you've been striving for it and working towards it.

00:22:38.308 --> 00:22:46.968
And you put yourself up there and they say no, they reject you and they pick somebody else, somebody that you feel more qualified than somebody that you feel you outwork.

00:22:46.968 --> 00:22:51.541
Whatever the situation is, they didn't go with you.

00:22:51.541 --> 00:23:01.383
The truth is, if we are not getting rejected on a daily basis, then our goals are not ambitious enough.

00:23:01.383 --> 00:23:03.627
Let that sink in for a second.

00:23:03.627 --> 00:23:12.814
If we are not dealing with getting rejected on a daily frigging basis, then our goals are not ambitious enough.

00:23:12.814 --> 00:23:16.507
Let's imply that to all the things we've been talking about.

00:23:16.507 --> 00:23:34.412
If you are out there trying to sell your goods as a small business, as a big business, as a salesperson for a business, and you're not getting a multitude of no's in the course of the day, you are not setting yourself big enough goals, you are not being ambitious enough.

00:23:35.661 --> 00:23:47.500
The way we handle, the way we process rejection has a major factor on how successful we are in our lives, how fulfilled we feel in our lives.

00:23:47.500 --> 00:24:06.395
I found a quote somewhere that I know I've shared on the podcast before and I'm probably going to have to go look and see who said it or what article it came from, but they listed the fact that failure and how you deal with and accept failure is the biggest indicator to how you will live your life.

00:24:06.395 --> 00:24:24.353
The way you process and handle failure is the number one indicator into how successful you can be in life, how fulfilled you will feel in life, because everybody fails, everybody fails every single day, and I think that failure and rejection can become one and the same.

00:24:24.353 --> 00:24:29.251
How we handle those, how we process those, how we overcome those can all be the same.

00:24:29.251 --> 00:24:35.767
So how we handle rejection and failure can be the number one indicator for how successful your life is going to be.

00:24:35.767 --> 00:24:41.211
Like anything, the more you do something, the better you get at it right.

00:24:41.211 --> 00:24:44.501
The more you fail, the more comfortable you are in failing.

00:24:44.501 --> 00:24:52.464
The more you handle rejection and how you process it, the easier it is to get rejected and to move on from said rejection.

00:24:52.685 --> 00:25:02.428
Right, we're almost callousing ourselves to dealing with failure and rejection, but to do so you must be extremely resilient.

00:25:02.428 --> 00:25:07.175
Recognizing resilience within yourself gives you strength.

00:25:07.175 --> 00:25:14.054
It reminds you that life is a series of messy stumbles followed by a series of uplifting moments.

00:25:14.054 --> 00:25:18.619
You learn that it will most always turn out okay.

00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:21.119
You will survive.

00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:40.907
The more you deal with rejection and failure, you begin to realize and establish that you are a resilient son of a bitch and that if you realize that that resilience the way you process and handle these failures, these rejections, it gives you strength and it reminds you that in life it is a series of stumbles.

00:25:40.907 --> 00:25:54.705
It is a series of failures, of rejections, but they are always followed by uplifting moments and you will learn that, most of all, life will always turn out okay, you will survive.

00:25:54.705 --> 00:26:04.653
In the words of my late father I will always be okay, my dad, no matter what he was faced, no matter what the situation.

00:26:04.653 --> 00:26:12.201
When the IRS said we're going to take your house and everything you own, my dad said I'm going to be okay, everything's going to be okay.

00:26:12.201 --> 00:26:21.945
When they told my dad he had days to hours to live, he said I'm going to be okay, I'm always going to be okay.

00:26:21.945 --> 00:26:25.271
And then he also told the doctor to fuck off.

00:26:25.271 --> 00:26:27.535
But that's not the point I'm trying to make here.

00:26:27.535 --> 00:26:29.865
This, too, shall pass.

00:26:29.865 --> 00:26:39.974
Life is full of failures and rejections and stumbles, but it's always followed by uplifting moments.

00:26:39.974 --> 00:26:44.809
Everything will always turn out okay.

00:26:46.034 --> 00:26:51.665
Discovering that you are resilient is a revelation in itself.

00:26:51.665 --> 00:26:59.746
When you realize you were rejected, when you realize you failed, when you were told no and you processed it and you handled it.

00:26:59.746 --> 00:27:25.275
And you processed it and you handled it and you reapplied and you retried and you did something different in a new way, a brighter way, you discovered that you are resilient and that resilience is a revelation that should be eye-opening to you, that should give more to you than not being rejected in the first place.

00:27:25.275 --> 00:27:26.260
Does that make sense?

00:27:26.260 --> 00:27:31.089
Far too often, it's the lesson of the rejection that we needed.

00:27:31.089 --> 00:27:41.647
Far too often it's not the actual acceptance of what we put out there, it's not the promotion, it's not the new job, it's not the first date, it's not going to prom.

00:27:41.647 --> 00:27:44.616
It's how we processed being told no.

00:27:44.616 --> 00:27:48.428
The lesson we really needed was in the lesson of rejection.

00:27:49.190 --> 00:28:18.669
The opportunity that we think we lost might not be as great as the opportunity to overcome, to recalice ourselves with dealing with rejection and fear, to gain another layer of resilience when we are first told no, when we are rejected, when we missed out on something that we had ourselves invested in right, you're invested in a relationship, a promotion, a new job, whatever that is.

00:28:18.669 --> 00:28:23.046
You put all this energy, this hopes, these dreams, this desire.

00:28:23.046 --> 00:28:35.558
We spend so much time focusing on, hyper-focusing on something when it doesn't go our way, when it doesn't work out, when we've been told no, we've went in a different direction, we're not the right fit for each other.

00:28:35.558 --> 00:28:45.106
Whatever the situation is, the moment that it happens it's a swift kick in the bricks, right, and we're all going to get punched in the face.

00:28:45.106 --> 00:28:49.151
That whole Mike Tyson quote that's been said a million times before.

00:28:49.151 --> 00:28:54.211
Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face and that's the truth.

00:28:54.211 --> 00:28:55.684
You get punched in the face.

00:28:55.684 --> 00:28:57.390
And then what are you going to do?

00:28:57.390 --> 00:29:01.228
Initially, you're backed up to the ropes.

00:29:01.228 --> 00:29:02.464
You're going to be in shock.

00:29:02.464 --> 00:29:04.153
It's what you do after the shock.

00:29:04.153 --> 00:29:05.040
It's what you do after the shock.

00:29:05.040 --> 00:29:07.385
It's what you do after you begin to process that.

00:29:07.846 --> 00:29:17.633
Because what if that rejection that one thing that you put so much emphasis into, so much energy into, is a catalyst for change?

00:29:17.633 --> 00:29:20.986
What if you applied for a new job?

00:29:20.986 --> 00:29:32.493
What if you were applying for a promotion and you didn't get it, but instead you took the time to reflect on it and decided how do I better my current situation?

00:29:32.493 --> 00:29:40.560
Is there something that I can do in my current situation to make me enjoy this job more than I did before?

00:29:40.560 --> 00:29:42.746
Is this a catalyst for change?

00:29:42.746 --> 00:29:46.202
Did I create an opportunity for me to make a difference?

00:29:46.202 --> 00:29:53.126
Does this make sense to you guys when you were told no, you're not going to get the job, and you went back to the job you already have?

00:29:53.126 --> 00:29:59.467
If you can find the inner berries to look at your situation and say how do I better this?

00:29:59.467 --> 00:30:07.306
How can I enjoy what it is I'm doing right now as much as I envision myself enjoying what I was about to go do.

00:30:07.306 --> 00:30:12.751
And if there's something you can do to change your current situation, then do it.

00:30:12.751 --> 00:30:14.204
And that, right.

00:30:14.226 --> 00:30:30.873
There is the reason for today's episode, because there's somebody in my life that I care oh so much about, there's somebody in my life that I love that I'm not going to share any more details about that person or the situation because I want to keep that a secret.

00:30:30.873 --> 00:30:47.063
It's in confidence that this was shared with me, but I want them to know how proud I am of them, because there's somebody that I know and love that was working so, so hard for a new job, that I know and love, that was working so, so hard for a new job.

00:30:47.063 --> 00:30:48.566
They've been at their job now that they have for five years.

00:30:48.566 --> 00:30:51.471
They've had a promotion, they enjoy what they're doing.

00:30:51.471 --> 00:31:19.277
But this nice, new, shiny opportunity at a whole new place came up and originally it was just a thought and an idea and eventually a lot of thought and research went into the possibility of what might be in this career change, which led to a lot of research, which led to getting overly invested in that potential opportunity and what that might bring to that person and to their family.

00:31:19.277 --> 00:31:27.497
And they were so invested that eventually, after all the thought and after all the research, it became clear to them this was their opportunity.

00:31:27.497 --> 00:31:35.020
This was the perfect opportunity at the perfect time and they wanted it, and the people that were interviewing them wanted them too.

00:31:35.020 --> 00:31:38.367
But in the end it didn't line up.

00:31:38.367 --> 00:31:45.412
In the end, the money didn't make sense, the benefits didn't make sense and it just didn't go the way it needed to go.

00:31:46.980 --> 00:32:01.951
When that person wrote to me and said I was praying this would all work out I was praying this would all work out my response was maybe it did.

00:32:01.951 --> 00:32:06.728
We don't like to think this way, folks.

00:32:06.728 --> 00:32:09.688
We're not wired to think this way.

00:32:09.688 --> 00:32:13.150
We are pre-programmed to focus on the no.

00:32:13.150 --> 00:32:16.809
We are pre-programmed to focus on the rejection.

00:32:16.809 --> 00:32:20.609
We are pre-programmed to wallow in self-pity.

00:32:20.609 --> 00:32:25.311
We are not programmed to pick up, pack up and move on.

00:32:25.311 --> 00:32:33.186
It takes years of building and developing resilience to be at that point.

00:32:34.721 --> 00:32:43.571
This text message is a message that, in turn, led to a later conversation from the same person that said you know what?

00:32:43.571 --> 00:32:48.242
I went and I had a meeting with my boss and I put this on the table.

00:32:48.242 --> 00:32:50.776
I asked for this, I recommended this.

00:32:50.776 --> 00:32:56.259
I pointed out this Are you kidding me?

00:32:56.259 --> 00:33:00.000
This is the definition of resilience.

00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:04.181
This is the definition of using rejection for the right reasons.

00:33:04.181 --> 00:33:10.423
This is realizing that maybe rejection is what was best for you.

00:33:10.423 --> 00:33:15.082
This is taking rejection and turning it into a catalyst for change.

00:33:15.082 --> 00:33:17.950
This is maximizing your failure.

00:33:17.950 --> 00:33:21.480
This is learning from all these experiences.

00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:26.474
This is all we could ever hope for, all we can ever dream for in life.

00:33:26.836 --> 00:33:28.539
Because guess what, cinderella?

00:33:28.539 --> 00:33:30.123
Not everything works out.

00:33:30.123 --> 00:33:37.374
The shoe doesn't always fit, and when you kiss the fucking frog, far too often it's just a toad, it's not a prince in disguise.

00:33:37.374 --> 00:33:40.323
The point is, it's how we react to things.

00:33:40.323 --> 00:33:41.666
It's how we roll on to the other thing.

00:33:41.666 --> 00:33:42.710
It's how we roll on to the other thing.

00:33:42.710 --> 00:33:45.218
It's how do we take this hand that was dealt to us.

00:33:45.218 --> 00:33:51.959
How do we take the situation that we find ourselves in and make the absolute best of it for me and for my family?

00:33:51.959 --> 00:33:56.500
To you listening right, freaking now that had this conversation with me.

00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:58.915
I love you and I'm so damn proud for you.

00:33:59.710 --> 00:34:02.153
You took this situation.

00:34:02.153 --> 00:34:04.576
You invested so much into it.

00:34:04.576 --> 00:34:11.485
You went into it for the right reasons, you did all the research, you put everything on the table and you realize this just doesn't work out.

00:34:11.485 --> 00:34:16.577
But this is an opportunity for me to realize what can I do to better what I'm doing?

00:34:16.577 --> 00:34:23.259
Right freaking now, and maybe the changes I make, the offers that I put on the table, they don't go for them.

00:34:23.259 --> 00:34:27.239
If they don't go for them, it opens my eyes to the fact that I do need to leave.

00:34:27.239 --> 00:34:35.719
If they do go for them and I better my opportunity and I've been somewhere for five years and this makes me stick for another five years then all of this was worth it.

00:34:35.719 --> 00:34:41.135
Maybe it just keeps you in place for another two months until another opportunity pops up somewhere else.

00:34:41.596 --> 00:34:52.280
I don't know, but the truth is the way you handled it, the way you reacted to it, is exactly what was asked of you and it's exactly what you needed to do for you.

00:34:52.280 --> 00:34:55.038
You were praying that it would all work out.

00:34:55.038 --> 00:34:57.097
Maybe it did.

00:34:57.097 --> 00:35:01.521
Maybe it went exactly the way it was supposed to go.

00:35:01.521 --> 00:35:10.342
Maybe if we took that job, we would have hated it and we would have passed up on a five-year career for a potential opportunity.

00:35:10.342 --> 00:35:14.219
We don't know the way things would always go.

00:35:14.219 --> 00:35:17.460
We always assume the grass is always greener.

00:35:17.460 --> 00:35:22.878
We always think that if I did this, if I did that, if I took that opportunity, I'd be rich, right.

00:35:22.878 --> 00:35:27.822
We all think it would have been better how we made the other decision.

00:35:27.822 --> 00:35:34.704
We don't like to think that if we took that other opportunity, maybe it goes horribly wrong.

00:35:35.371 --> 00:35:45.153
I'm not trying to keep anybody from putting themselves out there because, as I said already during this episode, if you're not getting rejected on a daily basis and you are not ambitious enough.

00:35:45.153 --> 00:35:59.298
This person was rejected with this work opportunity and then, instead of wallowing themselves into a shell of rejection, they put themselves back out there, went to the opportunity they have now and asked for this, this and that.

00:35:59.298 --> 00:36:00.161
That's putting yourself back out there.

00:36:00.161 --> 00:36:00.844
That's not hiding from rejection.

00:36:00.844 --> 00:36:02.690
This, this and that, that's putting yourself back out there.

00:36:02.690 --> 00:36:04.293
That's not hiding from rejection.

00:36:04.293 --> 00:36:05.838
That's not living in fear.

00:36:05.838 --> 00:36:10.677
That's putting your big girl's pants on and moving the hell forward.

00:36:10.677 --> 00:36:23.650
I'm proud of you and I love you, and to everybody that's listening right now, I encourage you when you are faced with something that didn't go your way, when you're telling yourself man, I wanted this so bad, I prayed for this so freaking hard.

00:36:23.650 --> 00:36:31.414
I just wanted this to work out, and you're feeling like it didn't, but maybe, just maybe, it absolutely did.

00:36:31.414 --> 00:36:40.753
When I opened the show today, I teased today that even Goth Brooks would agree with me today.

00:36:40.753 --> 00:36:41.735
And it's true.

00:36:41.735 --> 00:36:44.121
It's so damn true.

00:36:44.489 --> 00:36:45.795
There's a Goth Brooks song.

00:36:45.795 --> 00:36:47.998
You've heard me reference it on here before.

00:36:47.998 --> 00:36:55.257
If you're a day one, if you're a loyal one which I know over 50% of you right now are new listeners, so I'm going to share this with you.

00:36:55.257 --> 00:36:57.096
But some of you already know this.

00:36:57.096 --> 00:37:00.856
There's one song that I always look to.

00:37:01.978 --> 00:37:07.340
When I was younger and I was getting over breakups, like I was invested in some long-term relationships.

00:37:07.340 --> 00:37:13.217
The first relationship I ever had as a young little lad, in high school I think, was a four-year relationship, right.

00:37:13.217 --> 00:37:16.659
And then I jumped into another long-term relationship I knew another one.

00:37:16.659 --> 00:37:26.755
It seems like my whole life was, you know, sprinkled in some small mistakes here and there, but they were four years, two years, seven years, that type of scenario, right.

00:37:26.755 --> 00:37:50.224
But there was this song that would always pop up, and whenever it just naturally happened on the radio, I began to get to the point of like shit, I'm about to have a breakup because this song is telling me I'm not with the right person and all those little, you know quick relationship mistakes, those long-term situations you know, I call them situations because they didn't end well.

00:37:50.224 --> 00:37:53.416
Right For me to get through some of those.

00:37:53.416 --> 00:38:02.735
I went back to this song, but the song often just popped up randomly and I instantly was like, well, we're going to be fighting for the next 24 hours, thank you, Garth.

00:38:02.735 --> 00:38:11.791
But the best thing about it is is now that song just rings true to me because it showed me that I was right.

00:38:11.791 --> 00:38:20.179
I was right when I was looking into this music, when I felt this song a certain way and it molded, impacted my life each and every day.

00:38:20.179 --> 00:38:21.362
It helped me through those breakups.

00:38:21.362 --> 00:38:24.278
It was all leading to me to where I am right now.

00:38:24.358 --> 00:38:31.018
And the irony in this is there's actually a garth brooks triple live box set on my freaking kitchen table right now.

00:38:31.018 --> 00:38:35.893
Hang on a second, I'm gonna grab it place all.

00:38:35.893 --> 00:38:36.693
Stay right there.

00:38:36.693 --> 00:38:38.077
Okay, you there.

00:38:38.077 --> 00:38:43.498
Normally I can edit that all out of the podcast and I would, but I'm not going to, and here's the reason why I wanted to prove to you this is.

00:38:43.498 --> 00:38:47.594
Normally I can edit that all out of the podcast and I would, but I'm not going to, and here's the reason why I wanted to prove to you this is actually truth.

00:38:47.594 --> 00:38:51.717
This is me Right now tapping on the box.

00:38:51.717 --> 00:38:52.139
Can you hear?

00:38:52.139 --> 00:38:58.722
This is a Bass Pro Shops Garth Brooks collection.

00:38:58.722 --> 00:39:14.833
This year's perfect gift A 7-disc box set, 68-page collector's book, 74 songs, including Garth's new 10-track studio album, time Traveler.

00:39:14.833 --> 00:39:22.315
This right here was a gift to me from my mother for Christmas and I didn't even think about this at all when I was jotting some things down for today's show.

00:39:27.030 --> 00:39:36.280
This is kind of funny and fitting, because there's a song from Garth Brooks that just changed the way I looked at relationships and how I got through breakups and encouraged me to keep on picking up and moving on.

00:39:36.280 --> 00:39:42.760
The name of that song is Unanswered Prayers and on this particular box set it's on disc two of triple live.

00:39:42.760 --> 00:39:44.454
So I'm just proving to you.

00:39:44.454 --> 00:39:45.416
This is sitting here.

00:39:45.416 --> 00:39:51.478
If that doesn't tell me that I needed to deliver this message today, then I don't know what does.

00:39:51.478 --> 00:39:54.708
This was put here for me to deliver.

00:39:54.708 --> 00:39:57.496
You understand I didn't put that there on purpose.

00:39:57.496 --> 00:39:58.820
I'm saying it was put there.

00:39:58.820 --> 00:40:01.983
You feel me Unanswered prayers.

00:40:01.983 --> 00:40:02.170
Let me get into this.

00:40:02.170 --> 00:40:02.980
I'm going to read it.

00:40:02.980 --> 00:40:03.000
I'm not going.

00:40:03.000 --> 00:40:03.039
Was put there.

00:40:03.039 --> 00:40:03.297
You feel me Unanswered prayers, let me get into this.

00:40:03.297 --> 00:40:04.954
I'm going to read it.

00:40:04.954 --> 00:40:06.018
I'm not going to sing it.

00:40:06.018 --> 00:40:09.900
I do not sound like Garth and I can't carry a tune in a bucket.

00:40:09.900 --> 00:40:13.900
I'm just going to read the opening part of the song you guys ready.

00:40:15.291 --> 00:40:29.985
Just the other night, at a hometown football game, my wife and I ran into my old high school flame and as I introduced them, the past came back to me and I couldn't help but think the way things used to be.

00:40:29.985 --> 00:40:40.432
She was the one that I wanted for all times, and each night I'd spend praying that God would make her mine.

00:40:40.432 --> 00:40:45.739
And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back, then I'd never ask for anything again.

00:40:45.739 --> 00:40:51.927
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.

00:40:51.927 --> 00:40:58.699
Remember when you're talking to the man upstairs, and just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care.

00:40:59.311 --> 00:41:02.961
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

00:41:02.961 --> 00:41:08.762
In life, we pray for things that we perceive to be what's best for us.

00:41:08.762 --> 00:41:12.416
God might have a better plan for us.

00:41:12.416 --> 00:41:19.141
You understand, when I received the text message, I was praying this would all work out.

00:41:19.141 --> 00:41:26.702
My instant reaction, my instant message sent back.

00:41:26.702 --> 00:41:32.739
Maybe it did, because I instantly went back to Garth Brooks.

00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:47.661
I went back to unanswered prayers Because you need to remember in life, whatever it is, whatever it is that you're hoping for, that you're praying for the promotion, the relationship, whatever it is.

00:41:47.661 --> 00:42:00.802
When we sprinkle some time and distance on it, as we like to say, it all makes sense, because there's going to come a time when you're going to thank God for those unanswered prayers.

00:42:03.271 --> 00:42:14.481
Picking back up on our Garth Brooks lyrics, she wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams, and I could tell that time had changed me, and her eyes too, it seemed.

00:42:14.481 --> 00:42:16.894
We tried to talk about the old days.

00:42:16.894 --> 00:42:18.840
There wasn't much we could recall.

00:42:18.840 --> 00:42:22.219
I guess the Lord knows what he's doing after all.

00:42:22.219 --> 00:42:31.081
And as she walked away, well, I looked at my wife and then in there, I thank God for the gifts in my life.

00:42:31.750 --> 00:42:34.739
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers.

00:42:34.739 --> 00:42:50.936
You might not feel it right now, you might not be experiencing it right now, but someday, someway, you're going to realize what happened today led you to the promise of tomorrow that things are going exactly the way they need to go.

00:42:50.936 --> 00:42:53.443
Don't lose hope, don't lose sight.

00:42:53.443 --> 00:42:59.400
Keep doing what is right and someday, someway, you too will thank God for unanswered prayers.

00:42:59.400 --> 00:43:05.039
We'll thank God for unanswered prayers To each and every one of you.

00:43:05.039 --> 00:43:09.465
I thank you for supporting my American dream Never wash without your hands until the Sabbath.

00:43:09.465 --> 00:43:25.806
That's it and that's all Biggie Smalls.

00:43:25.847 --> 00:43:37.840
If you're a loud, proud American and you find yourself just wanting more, find me on YouTube and Facebook at Loud, proud American, or the Face page, as my mama calls it.

00:43:37.840 --> 00:43:45.041
If you're a fan of the Graham Cracker, you want to find me on Instagram, or all the kids by tickety-talking on the TikTok.

00:43:45.041 --> 00:43:52.503
You can find me on both of those at loud, underscore, proud, underscore American.

00:43:52.503 --> 00:44:03.726
I'm not talking about myself.

00:44:03.726 --> 00:44:08.449
A big old thank you to the boys from the Gut Truckers for the background beats and the theme song to this year's podcast.

00:44:08.449 --> 00:44:13.398
If you are enjoying what you're hearing, you can track down the Gut Truckers on Facebook.

00:44:13.398 --> 00:44:14.976
Just search Gut Truckers.

00:44:14.976 --> 00:44:17.318
Give them, motherfuckers, a like too.

00:44:17.318 --> 00:44:20.920
I'm not saying I will make it bleed.

00:44:20.920 --> 00:44:40.527
I ain't gonna say supporting my American dream.

00:44:40.527 --> 00:44:43.335
Now go wash your fucking hands, you filthy savage.

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