You know that feeling when you're on a call with someone who seems really excited about what you do, or you're messaging back and forth and the energy is perfect... and then they just disappear? Or you get that "thanks, but I'm going with someone else" message when you were sure it was going to be a yes?

There's this idea floating around that "if you struggle with rejection then you're not cut out to be an entrepreneur." And honestly? That's not true.

Let's be real - no one likes being ghosted or hearing no. That anxious feeling when you check your messages for the tenth time? That pit in your stomach when you finally get a response and it's not the one you wanted? Totally normal.

Being an entrepreneur doesn't mean becoming immune to rejection - it means learning how to sit with that feeling and keep going anyway.

Here are four things that have helped me deal with the silence and the nos:

1. Try speaking to yourself like you'd talk to a friend

Something as simple as saying "Even if this person said no, I'm going to keep showing up for the people who need what I create" can shift your whole mindset. Cause there's something powerful about catching those negative thoughts and replacing them with something kinder.

2. Remember that silence rarely means what we think it means

Your inbox and DMs are probably full of people trying to sell to you right now. So is mine. So is everyone's. When someone doesn't respond, it usually has more to do with their overwhelm than your worth.

3. Pay attention to what you're feeding your mind

Here's something I've learned the hard way - when you're feeling the sting of rejection, another business podcast about "crushing it" or "10xing your success" can make you feel worse.

Instead, I fill my podcast queue with shows that have nothing to do with business - ones that make me laugh or tell amazing stories (I'll share my favorites below). Or read books that make you feel capable instead of inadequate. And don't feel bad about hitting that mute button on accounts that leave you feeling like you're always coming up short (even if they're not trying to).

These are my favorite non-business podcasts that never fail to lift my mood:

• Baking a Murder by Stephanie Soo. Click here for the Apple podcast link and here for the Spotify link.
• Moral of the Story, also by Stephanie Soo. Click here for the Apple podcast link and here for the Spotify link.
• ThreadTalk: The Reddit Review Show. Click here for the Apple podcast link and here for the Spotify link.

4. Give yourself permission to feel bummed out

Take a night off. Watch that comfort show, order your favorite takeout, or do whatever helps you reset. As Jack Ma puts it: "Of course you're not happy when people say 'no.' Have a good sleep, wake up and try again."

You'll get better at handling the ghosting and the nos. Not cause you'll grow a thicker skin, but cause you'll learn that every silence and every no gets you closer to the people who actually need what you offer. So keep showing up for them.

You got this.