Rejection and failure are part of life, so are setbacks to our projects and plans. There is a natural rhythm to things – as in, two steps forward one step back – which means that any progress will appear to be interrupted at intervals.

I’ve noticed that some people confuse the inevitable pauses and punctuations as failure, something more permanent than a temporary halt. This can lead to unwisely abandoning something too early, incorrectly assuming it’s failed.

Ups and downs, and stops and starts, are part of the way of things. If you see these as a signal to give up or abandon a project you may miss out. Think instead of the pauses as an opportunity to take stock, review the situation, rest or regroup.