The pen is mightier than the sword, only in one circumstance: You have to write something that skewers someone.

If you fail to write, then bullying, force, and all of the other primitive tactics of the barbarians succeed.

Just this week alone, I experienced two rejections that were senseless, and ego-driven.

For a very short time, these setbacks bothered me, consuming some of my consciousness. But I thought, hey, I have better things to do with my thoughts, my attention, and my emotions, than to give them over to bozos!

So, I wrote two articles, one about each circumstance.

And you can’t imagine how much better I feel!

I vented my spleen, vanquished my vitriol, and valiantly did a lot of other “V” things, as well.

You get the point: I got that corrosive crud out of my system, flushed it away with my words.

You can, too.

Write what you feel, what moves you.

See the general point that’s lurking in your very specific, private experience, and then share it.

You’ll help yourself while you’re helping others.

To me, there’s nothing as enjoyable as impassioned expression. It simply makes my blood percolate, and I like that feeling.

So, the next time you’re scorned, rebuffed, rejected, stymied, or insulted, write about it, and happily, you’ll find that you’ve finally let your disappointment go!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.