logo
logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Projects
  • Thoughts
  • Contact
logo
  • Home
  • About
  • Projects
  • Thoughts
  • Contact
ThoughtsJanuary 4, 2018

Facing Rejection

By admin

One of the biggest life lessons I’ve had to through is the multitude of rejections I’ve had to face in my career. In this era of not knowing which direction to walk towards, or the fear of not amounting to your own expectations, its so easy to feel paralysed by your own thoughts. Facing rejection is always difficult, but overcoming rejection always makes you stronger.

Having Courage
One of the many tapes I sent, don’t I look great as a female assassin?
So close, yet so far. One of the best auditions I would have landed.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to seek out new markets in Asia and North America. I’ve sent tapes to so many casting directors, sat in so many auditions and gotten so close with call backs but always seemed to fail short. You can imagine what that does for my ego.  I always say that I’ve probably failed more than I have succeeded. So you can understand why gratitude in this industry is so necessary. We work so hard to be seen, we work so hard to have doors close in front of us. But there’s always a sense of courage each time we try, because it’s not just about hope, but about perseverance that we refuse to be complacent and accept status quo. Making an attempt is always going to be more courageous than standing on the side lines thinking what ifs without doing anything.

Being Vulnerable


Let’s face it, no one enjoys rejection. It is tough to go through scenarios where you are torn apart and picked on by your audience. We quickly race through our minds what we could have done differently; maybe it was something we said, maybe it was our tone, maybe it was our energy. Then we start to negotiate different scenarios in our head but we never ignore the disappointment that seeps in. But in that most broken moment of vulnerability, you always know that there are lots to learn from. (you have no choice but to learn)

One Step Closer to Success

Whether it is about how thick one’s skin is or how badly we want something, the journey of ups and downs will reveal your character. It shows your courage to show up, it shows your strength to overcome and it shows your tenacity to move forward. What I realised most of all, is that you end up being the winner, regardless of what it is you’re trying to get. Like those people who set goals to lose weight, or to read X number of books in a year – their journey ends up pushing them to succeed in other areas of their life, their transformation was the bigger outcome not their actual goal.

Calm waters never made a good sailor.

Life is about resilience and being able to take the punches it gives you. (I read an amazing article about the Secrets of Resilience here.) I am grateful that my life wasn’t always easy. I’m grateful that I learnt early on to work hard for the things I want. I’m grateful for all the rejections I’ve faced in my life because it has allowed me to appreciate my own breakthroughs. So for this year, I challenge all of you to step out and stop waiting for that perfect moment. Just go for it. What’s the worst thing that could happen?

breakups, finding yourself, moving on, rejection
Previous Trust your timing.
Next I surrender.

Related Posts

Love you like a love song baby

Quote of the Week – Commitment

Quote of the Week: Maturity

Comment

There is no comment on this post. Be the first one.

Leave a comment or Cancel Reply

  • Instagram

    Learning this one for 2021. For anyone that rememb Learning this one for 2021. For anyone that remembers old pain, open your heart to new love. ❤️ #love
    Still not wearing pants. 😂😂 Wearing @jujumel Still not wearing pants. 😂😂
Wearing @jujumellointimates instead. 😊

Looks like the first 2 weeks of January has taken a turn for the worst in Malaysia. Our health system at it’s capacity. Greedy politicians trying to fight for power, so much so our King has been granted Emergency Powers until August. To be honest, all of this hasn’t quite hit me yet, I’ve had a slower start to the year but each step taken has been intentional, from the people I spend my time with to the people I want to work with. 

Life is still not a bed of roses but I don’t mind taking time to pluck the thorns out. I’m clearly still exploring parts of me that I’ve missed for awhile. I’ve had friends from my past telling me that the old Sarah is back again and I’m glad too! I’ve been having such lucid dreams and they’ve been giving me a clearer indication of what I need to work on. (Thank God for @therealashagill’s #DecodingDreams workshop) 

I’m trying to be more accepting of things I cannot change and learning from last year’s situation. If you can, help out a small business, everyone is trying to make a side hustle to make ends meet. We can always be kinder, more compassionate and more loving to those who have less than us. Everyone is fighting a battle that we cannot see. Don’t be so quick to judge.

#dudukrumah #kitajagakita
    Decided to push for a HIIT workout before Malaysia Decided to push for a HIIT workout before Malaysia got the news that we will be having another lockdown. We’re back to MCO status as of Wednesday and if you haven’t learnt from our first MCO, here’s your chance to learn from it again! 😂 This time I’ve got Dolly to look after. 
I don’t think I’ll be wearing pants for awhile either. What are you going to be doing differently this time around? #lockdown #thirdwave #coronavirus
    The impending work from home situation is making m The impending work from home situation is making me nervous. Imagine all the distractions that can happen with @arnu_de_villiers. Gotta stop thinking and just do. 😈

#hotmalemondays
    Sarah on a Sunday IRL. #bliss Sarah on a Sunday IRL. #bliss
    So happy for @eugeniecml and Adam to finally tie t So happy for @eugeniecml and Adam to finally tie the knot!! Congratulations to this happy couple. Huge milestones for the @suppagood / @suppagoodpr family with wedding season upon us!! ❤️❤️❤️ #suppafam
    It’s 2021. We should be able to live in a world It’s 2021. We should be able to live in a world where empowered women are not measured by how much or how little clothes they wear. Stop hiding behind the narrative of “protecting women”, instead teach men to be respectful. 

I share a conversation with a woman who wanted to impose her archaic viewpoint on me about how she avoids men degrading her. 

Not only was she dangerously victim blaming “bc I’m asking for it”, she was also age-shaming (apparently bikinis have an age limit 🤷🏻‍♀️) and telling me that my swimwear was not appropriate for the waterfall 🤔. But the worst part was her condescending tone towards me because I was unmarried and childless. I think I’ve done a lot of work on myself to be able to withstand this dialogue but if this conversation happened last year, I would have felt defeated and maybe even gone into a dark place (at the helm of society’s judgment).

The truth is, so many women have different reasons or situations for their path in life. Sometimes it’s by choice and sometimes it’s by fate, but it’s extremely dangerous to weaponise your status to look down on another woman. Undoubtedly she was provoked, hence her ad hominem attack, but it doesn’t make it ok. In fact, that conversation showed me how much she derived her worth from men and I felt sorry for her.

I’ve spent the past 2 years building a community to uplift women and this conversation was the most disappointing interaction I’ve had in years. Women have enough shit to deal with, let alone spewed negativity from one another. 

Let’s go back to celebrating each other for being courageous in whatever journey we’re on. Clothed or not, our worth is not measured in what we wear but how we see ourselves. 

I love these illustrations by @lainey.molnar. 

#teachboys #loveyourself #womenempowerment #chooseyou #toxicfemininity #shamingwomensbodies
    #Throwback to my long hair. @rozellamarie went for #Throwback to my long hair. @rozellamarie went for the crop and now I’m just trying to aim for the shoulders again! #missmylonghairnow
    Dolly issa vibe. Meet my latest foster Dolly! If Dolly issa vibe. 
Meet my latest foster Dolly! If she’s not grunting, she’s snoring. On my third puppy from @myforeverdoggo! If you ever want to know what it’s like to own a dog, foster and test your own patience! 

#adoptdontshop #fostermom #rescuepuppy #puppy #streetdogs
    Follow on Instagram
  • Facebook

    Sarah Lian

    1 day ago

    Sarah Lian

    Learning this one for 2021. For anyone that remembers old pain, open your heart to new love. ❤️ #love ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    ·Share

    Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

    Sarah Lian

    4 days ago

    Sarah Lian

    Decided to push for a HIIT workout before Malaysia got the news that we will be having another lockdown. We’re back to MCO status as of Wednesday and if you haven’t learnt from our first MCO, here’s your chance to learn from it again! 😂 This time I’ve got Dolly to look after.
    I don’t think I’ll be wearing pants for awhile either. What are you going to be doing differently this time around? #lockdown #thirdwave #coronavirus
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Video

    View on Facebook
    ·Share

    Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

    Sarah Lian

    1 week ago

    Sarah Lian

    #Throwback to my long hair. @rozellamarie went for the crop and now I’m just trying to aim for the shoulders again! #missmylonghairnow ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    ·Share

    Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

    Sarah Lian

    1 week ago

    Sarah Lian

    Dolly issa vibe.
    Meet my latest foster Dolly! If she’s not grunting, she’s snoring. On my third puppy from @myforeverdoggo! If you ever want to know what it’s like to own a dog, foster and test your own patience!
    ... See MoreSee Less

    Video

    View on Facebook
    ·Share

    Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

    Sarah Lian

    2 weeks ago

    Sarah Lian

    I’m awake, happy and optimistic. Here’s to 2021 and the joy of being fully present. I’m excited to see what this next chapter is going to look like and the adventure that comes next. I’m looking forward to travel so that I can go home and be with my family. I’ve spent the past 6 months unravelling myself to get more connected to my hearts truth and the revelations have been profound. It really feels like a clean slate and these shifts have prepared me for what’s to come! Here’s to an awesome 2021 for all of us! ... See MoreSee Less

    Photo

    View on Facebook
    ·Share

    Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email

  • Twitter

    Sarah Lian (连丽婷)@imSarahLian·
    16 May 2019

    Starting my birthday month strong! The people have spoken and I will complete a random act of kindness for 30 days alongside:
    @frhanfdzl
    groshi24
    sinyin_t
    jeanwooi
    javidlpo
    essentioo
    @pmohanventhan

    If you want to… https://t.co/F9olhycEVf

    Retweet on TwitterSarah Lian (连丽婷) Retweeted
    UNRESERVED@unreservedmedia·
    10 May 2019

    Actress, host, emcee, and entrepreneur @imSarahLian on success, @suppagood and confidence: https://t.co/gdREJ1Vg5S

    📸: @suppagood.

    #unreserved #unreservedmedia #SarahLian #influencer #personality #Suppagood #suppagoodtalent #suppagoodpr

    Sarah Lian (连丽婷)@imSarahLian·
    9 May 2019

    Starting my birthday month strong! The people have spoken and I will complete a random act of kindness for 30 days alongside:… https://t.co/sT49fbOfQn

    Sarah Lian (连丽婷)@imSarahLian·
    6 May 2019

    Birthday week is coming up and I want to celebrate my new year with a challenge. How should I dedicate my next 30 days?

    Sarah Lian (连丽婷)@imSarahLian·
    6 May 2019

    Selamat Ramadan to all my Muslim friends!

    Load More...
© 2018 SarahLian.com. All rights reserved.