Thank You for Your Patience Although I realize that I kind of "fell off the wagon" when it comes to reporting (and perhaps even doing) rejection therapy projects on a daily basis, I wanted to wrap up this project and the year by sharing some of the adventures that I was blessed to experience as part of this process. Remember Jia, the guy who created the Rejection Therapy project? I was blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to do a rejection therapy project with him, beta testing his app and reporting along the way my journey with a group of complete strangers. Final Rejection Therapy Projects What were some of the rejection therapy projects I undertook? I did a couple of "buy a coffee for the next person" projects; however, the most impactful project in which I participated was to leave flowers at the grave site of my grandparents who died when I was young, and with whom I had not reconciled after learning of some bad choices that they had made while still alive. This project was both personal and life giving, as the feeling that I now have every time I drive by their cemetery is much different than the one I used to have before giving myself the grace and space to forgive them and open up more room in my heart for love. One day, I sent a care package to the daughter of a very sweet person with whom I attended high school and whose daughter had been in the hospital for some time. I received a very sweet note thanking me for the package and exclaiming that it was as if I had known her daughter my entire life (even though the two of us have not met). Even though the rejection therapy project with Jia was only a week, what I really liked about this challenge is that he gave examples and suggestions for each project, separating them into different categories and giving real world ideas so that we could take the ball and run to make the world a better place. Another thing I really appreciated about this opportunity was that he sent us messages of encouragement and asked good questions, creating a type of mentor and mentee relationship that can be helpful for everyone. Lessons Learned What did I learn over the course of this 100 day project? One of the biggest and best lessons was that it is possible to make a small change in the life of others that can have a big and lasting impact. In Matthew Kelly's latest book, The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity, he talks about how the saints were not actually perfect people, either, and how even though we put them on a pedestal and can sometimes feel like it is impossible to aspire to their levels of greatness, that saintly moments are created one habit at a time, and that our actions become our habits and our habits become our lives (does this sound familiar? It is the quote that I use on my blog site from the first Matthew Kelly book I read). It is truly possible, therefore, to become saints if we choose a trajectory of life that leads us on a path of one good choice after another. Even if we falter, this does not take us out of the running as saints. What is important is that we get back up and try again, and that we live our lives with integrity and passion. I am reminded of another of my favorite gurus, Rachel Hollis, and how she says that the biggest passion projects in our lives take time, and even though I found massively fast and positive results with rejection therapy, I think the biggest change is my mindset over the long haul. From time to time, I have to remind myself that even though I do not always make the choices that will lead to my goals in every infinitesimal interaction, that I am still a good person and that every small try leads me closer to success in the bigger and overarching areas of my life. Another lesson that I learned most drastically in Bolivia while on mission, but that I was reminded of again and again during my rejection therapy project, was to run towards my fears. Sometimes, these fears are small, like being pleasant to someone whom I think doesn't like me very much, or putting on a smile yet again when I am scared that I am going to be rejected by someone that I don't know. Other times, however, these fears are big, like apologizing for something that does not fit with my personal integrity or with how I define my interior peace and character. Each time that I interact in one of these difficult conversations with courage and with humility, it increases my confidence in myself and makes it that much easier for the next time that this comes up. In Conclusion Let me know if you have any final suggestions for random acts of kindness or growth projects for the future! As I end many of my Miracle Morning blogs, I am a child of the One True King, always learning, always growing.
2 Comments
Aunt Darlene
12/30/2018 04:43:23 pm
Valerie,
Reply
Valerie
12/31/2018 10:01:28 am
Thanks, Aunt Darlene! I really appreciate you and your example, as well as your honesty, support, and sharing suggestions for how to help others. Lots of love to you and your family over the new year!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorValerie Ellis, who is in alignment with the Black Lives Matter Movement and everyone whose life is impacted, now or before, by times of social injustice. Archives
July 2022
Categories
All
|