How do you deal with rejection?
- Acknowledge your emotions
- View rejection as evidence you’re pushing the limits
- Treat yourself with compassion
- Refuse to let rejection define you
- Learn from rejection
(Adapted from inc.com)
Everybody has to deal with rejection sometimes. Your love interest might not reciprocate your feelings, your business idea might not secure the venture capital needed, your artist proposal might not be accepted by a funder. Being able to deal with adversity will make it easier to pick yourself up and rise to the next challenge. superconductr have had to face a few setbacks in the process of research. Being blocked by Amazon Mechanical Turk and having a Fiverr gig removed are two examples. superconductr have chosen to use these experiences as an opportunity to grow, to learn about treating yourself with compassion.
Emails containing messages of rejection can be difficult to deal with. Hard-edged letters stare at you from the screen telling you that you are not good enough, have not worked hard enough, have not understood the rules of the game properly. But what if these emails could be translated into something soft and soothing, something to help you pull yourself together and gather your forces for the next move?
These are two ASMR videos reading out rejection emails from Fiverr and Amazon Mechanical Turk. The videos have been custom-made for superconductr by sellers on Fiverr for a payment of US$ 5 each.
ASMR (autonomous sensory meridian response) videos are an internet subculture of videos that are intended to induce a spine-tingling sensation in the viewer, usually through sounds and performances that signify intimacy: whispers, quiet sounds such as skin friction and paper crumpling, or performances of personal care such as hair care or massage. ASMR videos are mostly created by enthusiasts who contribute to this subculture without expectation of financial gain.
ASMR videos could be seen as one aspect of a culture of self-care and healing which has grown in prominence as a necessary corollary of neoliberal economics, as a tonic to help soothe the wounds inflicted by neoliberal competition and its main affective disorder: anxiety. In this respect, ASMR videos are part of a wider trend which also includes yoga, wellness, Buddhism, meditation and mindfulness. In contrast to the latter, ASMR videos largely exist outside commodification; instead they are made by enthusiasts for enthusiasts.