Somebody else got the job. You didn’t win the game. The gallery won’t show your art.

We’ve all felt the sting of rejection in our personal and professional lives. And when we watch it happen on TV—when the cameras show the faces of actors who didn’t get the Oscar or Olympians who didn’t take gold—we sympathize with the grim faces on our screens. We know from our own experiences just how painful those moments can be. After getting rejected, it’s easy to fall into regret and negative, counterfactual thinking. How do you propel yourself forward after getting rejected or failing at something important to you?

In this episode, I discuss rejection and how to handle it. You’ll hear about my application to be an astronaut and why the NASA astronaut selection process is like aiming for gold in the Olympics. I explain why getting invited for an interview with NASA is a big deal even if you don’t make the final cut. You’ll also gain some wisdom from Daniel Pink’s book, The Power of Regret, and learn the importance of having a “Well, at least…” mindset.

“The next time you’ve done everything in your power but don’t get the prize you were aiming for, think of those bronze medalists and let ‘Well, at least…’ propel you forward.” - Kathy Sullivan

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

• Why aiming to be a NASA astronaut is like aiming to be an Olympic athlete
• My application for the NASA astronaut selection in 1977
• Moving from an “If Only…” to a “Well, at least…” mindset
• Dealing with regret and why the bronze medalist is the happiest winner in the Olympics

Resources Mentioned:

• Book: The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward by Daniel Pink

Our Favorite Quotes:

• “Many successful astronauts suffered multiple rejections—16, in the case of Clayton Anderson— before finally getting that flight suit.” - Kathy Sullivan
• “Aiming to become an astronaut is like aiming to become an Olympic athlete. Countless people will reach for the dream, but a much smaller number will make it to their national team; a smaller number still will get a medal hung around their neck.” - Kathy Sullivan

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Visit my website at kathysullivanexplores.com to sign up for seven astronaut tips to improving your life on earth and be the first to discover future episodes and learn about more exciting adventures ahead!

Don’t forget to leave a rating and review wherever you get your podcasts!

Spotify I Stitcher I Apple Podcasts I iHeart Radio I TuneIn I Google I Amazon Music.