10 Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection

Ouch! Whether it's feedback we've asked for, an unsolicited remark called out from the audience or a simple "no" result of an audition or submission process, criticism and rejection are a huge part of our lives as creative artists.

Sometimes we're so fearful of being criticized or rejected that we keep our creativity bottled up and don't let it out.

Other times we constantly adapt what we create, focusing only on the "market" and what they seem to be liking or disliking this week. Then we end up feeling like we're not truly expressing our creative impulses.

10 Tools for Dealing with Criticism and Rejection

1. Be Open. You may be hoping for a specific reaction or response to your work, or a specific result of an audition, gallery submission, performance or contest entry. If you've done your best and you're rejected or criticized, you might feel that you've "failed", and it's probably hard to see anything positive about the situation. Try to be open to the possibility that this "failure" is actually leading you to something else, usually better than what you thought you wanted. As I read once in Cheryl Richardson's newsletter, "Any rejection is God's protection".

2. Be Consistent. Keep going, doing the little things every day that keep you creative and that keep you connected to other artists and to your customers. The dramatic moments and big wins and losses will come and go. Have a steady routine you can keep coming back to, and this will help to place any criticism or rejection into perspective. Today is a new day, another day you get to be an artist.

3. Be Focused. Keep your end goal in mind, and always be mindful of why you're doing what you're doing. That will help you focus on the big picture and not get tripped up by each bump in the road along the way.

4. Be Resilient. Remember that your sense of self-worth comes from inside of you. When you're able to be confident in yourself regardless of the feedback you get from external sources, you're able to bounce back much more easily from any negative feedback that you may get.

5. Be Positive. Focus your attention on the positive and you'll attract more of it. This is the premise of the "law of attraction", and I've certainly seen it work in my own life. Hear the positive feedback you receive and replay it over in your mind whenever you need to.

6. Be Clear. Approach constructive feedback with an accurate perspective, not muddled with thoughts from your own inner critic. Take it as a helpful tool for your own growth and remember that ultimately the only opinion that matters is your own – because you need to be happy with what you're producing.

7. Be Grateful. Be gracious to your critics, accept all of the feedback you receive, sit quietly and let it sink in. Be grateful to be actively creating – to have gotten past the fear and other roadblocks. Be grateful for the opportunity to have your work seen and heard. Some never get the chance.

8. Be Responsive. Decide consciously what to do with feedback before responding, instead of reacting with the first thought or words that come to mind.

9. Be Selective. Once you've decided what to do the feedback you've received, be selective and willing to let go of the hurtful feedback. This usually doesn't have anything to do with you anyway; it's a reflection of that person's own happiness, state of mind and comfort with themselves.

10. Be Loving. Be loving of your critic and ESPECIALLY of yourself. Plan some self-care treats for the day of the audition or submission. Regardless of the outcome, you deserve it!

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

© Linda Dessau, 2005

How To Finance Land For Sale In Oregon

For a really long time I have been much attracted by the idea of owning or riding or anything related to horses. I always thought about how wonderful it would be to look in my back yard and to be able to see horses running about freely. The bad thing is I didn't really have enough money to fulfill this dream.

There was not only one time when we've tried to get the bank to loan us some money for really small lots in Oregon which were destined for big animals. The bank demanded us to pay down 50% of the value of the land as down payment when we found land for sale in Oregon that we could actually afford and this would have happened only if we got accepted for the loan.

But as my husband was surfing the Internet one day, he found a deal which was really incredible. Some guy called Michael Long from Portland in Oregon was dealing with really small undeveloped parcels of land in the south of Oregon. He was selling the cheap land for just $12,000 and he was functioning as his own personal bank which means that we got the loan from him. He was demanding for a down payment of course but only of $500 and he only asked for $150 every month for the land.

We later found out the land he was selling was residential and that we could build a house on it. Also, the land permitted you to raise any kind of large animals. My dream of having my own horse ranch was becoming real. This guy has about 30 lots of land from which you can choose. He told us that some people didn't know how the land looked like when they bought it and if they didn't like it in the end he could put the money they had given him in a more desirable parcel of land.

What You Should Know About Acupuncture

One of a number of treatment used in traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure involves applying pressure to precise points on the body to improve the flow of vital energy. Acupuncture applies needles to the same points. The first medical textbook written on acupuncture was the yellow emperor's classic of internal medicine published a long time ago, but there is archaeological evidence that acupuncture has been practiced in China for at least three thousand five hundred years.

It is still practiced there alongside conventional medicine and is increasingly popular in the west. An orthodox doctor may concentrate on the diseased or ailing part of the body, but a practitioner of this medicine views a patient holistically, taking into account his or her physical, emotional and mental state, as well as specific aches and pains. In Chinese medicine, the body is believed to possess a network of invisible pathways called meridians, along which courses a form of energy, vital force or subtle breath.

The concept of a vital energy pervading all things is fundamental to many oriental systems of medicine, which maintain that as long as this energy flows freely, you remain healthy. When the energy becomes sluggish or stagnant, blocking the meridians, you fall ill. For perfect health you should be mentally and physically in harmony. Emotional as well as physical disturbance create disharmonies in the body.

Equally important is the belief that the energy should not only be balanced in your body but it should also be in harmony with the energies in the universe. This means that you are in harmony with nature and in tune with the seasons.

Five Things That Make NFL Football Unlike Any Other Sport

Football is unlike any other sport. It appeals to viewers on a different combination of levels than any other sport. Let's examine this in more detail:

Strategy: successful football plays require cunning strategy. It's not enough to just grab the ball and run; you often have to outsmart and outwit your opponents. While there are basic plays, there are also many strategies that are kept secret in a team's playbook.

Physical prowess: in addition to the strategy aspect mentioned above, football also requires a high level of physical ability. Players need speed to outrun and out maneuver their opponents. They need strength to be able to tackle the big players on the opposing team. They need endurance to be able to play through the entire game. And they need physical toughness to survive being hit and tackled throughout the game.

Violence: although some people may say that football is "too violent," that's actually one of the things that makes it appeal to viewers. While football itself is not about violence, the players' attempts to tackle each other do have violent overtones which make the sport more exciting. Of course, it's just part of the game (you have to tackle your opponent to bring them down), but the game isn't about trying to hurt your opponent.

Drama: certain football players have a flair for the dramatic. From fancy touchdown dances to throwing a fit if they get a penalty, and even drama in their daily lives outside of the sport (not going to name anyone here but I'm sure you can think of a few professional football players who have had some drama associated with them).

Technique: along with strategy mentioned above, football requires certain techniques. For example, the ability of the quarterback to throw the ball exactly where he wants it to go; the receiver being able to catch the ball, even if it requires a spectacular leap over an opposing player; running with the ball and faking out the guy attempting to tackle you, causing him to miss and allowing you to run to the end zone.

In addition to those, you have the fact that most football fans played the game while growing up, whether on teams or just in the field with their friends, and watching NFL games on TV brings back those memories of having fun playing with their friends.

Finally, there's the sophistication with which NFL football is broadcast. Instant replays, commentary, and on-screen graphics make the game even more fun to watch than it would be otherwise.

Email Auto Responder Software - How Does it Compare With Online Auto Responder Services?

Email autoresponder software is easily available online but chances are you will find yourself much better off using one of the autoresponder services that are out there?

Why?

Well, if you have a fantastic service that automates everything for you, that can give you a form on your website within minutes, than can protect you against spam legislation then why would you do it any other way?

Yes the services may carry a small monthly fee compared to a one off payment for email autoresponder software that you install and run from your own PC or server but for me the benefits are more than worth it.

Whether you choose email autoresponder software or an online service there are a few key things you need to consider.

It is important to your customers that your emails come across as professional so it helps if you have a selection of email templates to choose from.

You also want to be able to have your emails pre-written and scheduled to send so that you don't need to do anything else with it can and get on with making money.

It's also important to be able to prove that each person subscribed to receive your email. This is done with a double opt-in (where the person clicks on a link in your email) and its even better if you are able to record the ip address. That way if any spam complaints are made against you then you have all the evidence to prove your innocence.

If you can find email autoresponder software that does all this then fine, but I find it more easier to use one of the autoresponder services.

No Credit Check Debt Consolidation

Debt consolidation is the perfect way to reduce your debt and eliminate annoying calls from creditors. There are various ways to consolidate your debts. If you own a home or property, you may obtain a debt consolidation loan using your property as collateral. Of course, if you cannot repay the loan, your property is seized. Thus, you should exercise caution when applying for a debt consolidation loan.

Benefits of Debt Consolidation Personal Loan

Debt consolidation loans are beneficial for many reasons. When you consolidate your debts, all your bills are lumped into one loan. Thus, you eliminate making payments to several lenders each month. When you obtain a debt consolidation loan, the money received is used to payoff your creditors. Meanwhile, you make a single payment each month to pay the balance on your loan. Because these loans have a low interest rate, you are able to payoff your bills and save money at the same time.

Although debt consolidation loans appear to be a quick fix to debt problems, qualifying for these types of loans is not easy. In most cases, you must own a home or vehicle to obtain a loan. If you do not own a piece of property to secure the loan, banks will not grant you a debt consolidation loan.

Occasionally, loan applicants are able to obtain a "no-doc" loan approval. If approved for this type of loan, you are not required to show proof of employment or income. To qualify for this loan, you must have a high credit score. Still, lenders will review your credit prior to approving the loan application. Your credit report is a huge determining factor in the loan process. If your report is bad, consider a no credit check debt consolidation.

How to Eliminate Unsecured Debt with No Credit Check?

The easiest method for consolidating debts and bills without a credit check is through a debt management company. These companies are devoted to helping individuals with excessive debt reduce their unsecured credit card and consumer debts. These consolidations are not bank loans. Thus, they do not involve credit checks, and most people are approved.

If using a debt consolidation company, you must choose a company that best suits your needs. For example, some debt consolidation agencies have debt minimums. There are companies that require debtors to have at least $4000 in debt, whereas other companies require a debt amount of at least $10,000. After you have selected an agency, and submitted your information, the company will begin contacting your creditors to get your interest rates reduced or eliminated. This enables you to get out debt within a few years.