Stuck, Rejected, but Believing in the "Almosts”

Dealing with the emotions that come with navigating rejection is tough

Before I start, I have to share that I posted my Gratitude Series Day 7 a little early today, and it’s all thanks to reading something incredible from

Jolie Doggett

. Her words hit me per usual, and I couldn’t wait to respond and reflect on my own journey.

---

I read her post and it felt like it was pulled straight from my own mind. She was talking about getting a job rejection and how the waiting game (where many of us sit in self-doubt, comparing ourselves to everyone else) can just drag you down. And let me tell you, I felt that. Because here’s the thing: I legit love my current job, but I also know I’m capable of more. I want more. Not just for a larger paycheck (although, let’s be real, that wouldn’t hurt), but because I feel like I’m sitting on a mountain of potential that’s not being used.

I’ve been in my current role for a little over 5 years now, and I know I’ve got the skills, the experience, and the drive to make a bigger impact. And not just for the community we serve (though they mean everything to me) but for the staff, too. I want to be in a position where I’m really pushing things forward, creating change that lasts, but I’ve been feeling a bit stuck. It’s like I’ve been knocking at this door that just won’t open all the way. So, when I recently applied for a job back in August—the job, the one that felt like it was made for me, and made it through 3 rounds of interviews to the top 3 out of over 400 applicants, only to not get it… I was crushed. I’m talking ugly crying, snot, the whole thing. It felt like I was so close, like I could practically touch it, and then it slipped through my fingers.

Here’s the thing: the people who interviewed me said I was amazing. They actually told me another division would be posting jobs soon and that I’d be an even better fit for that division, which was reassuring in the moment. So, when that division posted new jobs a couple weeks later, I was like, "Okay, here’s my shot." I applied, confident this was it. And then... nothing. It’s been a month. Not even a phone screening. And I’m sitting here like, “Wait, how does this make sense? This is exactly where my experience lies. How do I not even get an interview?”

The self-doubt crept in real quick. You know the feeling. You start questioning yourself, thinking maybe you’re not as qualified as you thought, or maybe you're not as good as everyone keeps telling you. But deep down, I know that’s not true. I know I’m qualified. I know I’ve got what it takes. So, after a few days of living in that pity party, I made a decision: I’m not gonna let rejection define my worth. Sure, it sucks. It hurts to want something so bad, to have it right in front of you, and then lose it. But I’m choosing to push through. Because at the end of the day, it’s not about whether or not someone else sees my value; it’s about me seeing it in myself.

And that’s why I wanted to thank you for your transparency

Jolie Doggett

, for being so open about your own experience. You made me feel less alone, and honestly, that’s everything. This Substack community has been such a gift to me these past couple of months. In life, we’re all out here, going through transitions, feeling stuck, or overlooked, and most people don’t even talk about it. Or they hold it in, feeling embarrassed or ashamed, like if they admit they’re struggling, it means they’re failing. But hearing someone else say, “Hey, I’m going through this too,” reminds me that we’re all just figuring it out as we go.

That’s why I love this space so much. It’s real. It’s raw. And it’s supportive. Even on the days when I’m deep in my feelings, having my little pity party, I still find myself encouraged to keep trying. Because, like Jolie, I too:

Believe that good things will come. I believe in the other side of this waiting game. I believe in my God, in my community, and most of all, in myself. Because if I’ve made it through before, I can make it through again.

And even in the face of rejection, even when it stings, I’m motivated to keep going. There’s something waiting on the other side that’s worth the wait, and that’s what I’m holding onto.

So, thank you. Thank you Community for reminding me that I’m not alone in this, and for giving me a reason to keep believing in what’s possible. This journey is hard, but we’re in it together. And I’m grateful for that.