Rejection and burning out

Hi all, I’m struggling right now and could use some perspective. I’m 40 and applied to multiple MFA programs this year, but in the past two weeks, I’ve received three rejections and no interview invitations. I also got rejections from a grant and a residency.

I know my work is good, but I’ve never been accepted to any open call I’ve applied to, and my sales are almost nonexistent. I feel like I need the structure and time that grad school would provide to push my work forward, but without it, I worry that my practice is stagnating. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do if I don’t get in anywhere, and have been thinking about quitting altogether.

It’s especially hard because I have a large circle of artist friends who are thriving. They all have MFAs, they’re getting major opportunities internationally, and some are selling individual works for $100,000+ while landing big institutional shows. It feels impossible to catch up at this point in my life, and I don’t know if I can keep pouring time, energy, and money into something that seems to be leading nowhere.

Any advice would be appreciated.