Power does NOT = Happiness

Let’s talk about rejection, yuck! Nobody likes this word but in some cases it is a sign of something better to come for you. "Rejection is Gods protection!"

I’ve had a past client approach me about doing some work for the company and I was excited because I knew that I could do a stellar job. When it came time to negotiate the amount of money they were willing to pay it was so insulting I would have preferred that they just asked me to help them out free of charge. I declined to take the job because I felt rejected. I just shrugged it off. One thing I know for sure, is that if you get rejected (by a guy, a girl, a company or a family member) the good news is God has something better for you. It’s like you’re being protected because God may take something from you that you may rightfully deserve, but he may take it from you to do a “trade up”. It’s kind of like trading in a leased car for the newer version. There is always something better! The company that rejected didn’t see my value by paying me what I was worth never did come back. To my advantage I was given other jobs that were 10x the amount and a fraction of the time and effort.

I once heard that if you are stretching and couldn’t breathe and smile at the same time, pull out of the pose. Sometimes in pulling yourself out of a stressful situation you can gain more perspective.

I’ve been told early on in my career that you are never paid what you are worth; you are paid based on how well you negotiate. So, I would ask you, what are you negotiating in your life? Are you settling for a relationship that you know isn’t really that great for the sake of a warm body and a full calendar? Are you negotiating (Trading time for money) even though you hate what you are doing? Are you settling for a lazy body because you’ve failed at every diet and thus gave up? Maybe you’re negotiating on someone’s faults and not recognizing their value and dialoging over meaningless things like how to survive and not thrive.

One of the most powerful techniques in negotiation is certainty. It’s been said, “The power in all relationships lies in who cares less.” But I would argue that power isn’t happiness and sometimes it’s in caring more for another person that brings real joy.

So, if you’ve been rejected, just know that rejection is God’s protection and he always does a “trade up” in value. Keep your heart right in all things, for life can change so quickly. If you keep your heart right your life will be light and joyful. You can have a spring in your step even though you may be walking through a valley. Always remember,  power does Not = happiness.

The Excellence of Love

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek it’s own, is not provoked does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all thing, endures all things. Love never fails.

-The Bible