Do you remember the last time you felt rejected?
Applied for a job? Rejected.
Applied again? Rejected again.
Wanted to participate in a dance competition, but couldn’t get into the finals.
Asked your companion for a date, rejected.
Was it your boss who always overlooked you for a promotion?
Called your friend again and again but never got a response from her.
How did you feel about being rejected, not just once but again and again? Your answer must be sad, disappointed, frustrated, depressed, embarrassed, and whatnot.
Rejection is something that always hurts, no matter how small or big it may be. And no matter, how successful a man is in his life, he has to face rejection in some or other aspects of his life.
Why does being rejected hurt so much?
We often perceive rejection as something that makes us discouraged and demotivated. It makes us feel like we are not good enough, thus degrading our confidence and shifting us toward negativity. Most of the time we question ourselves and our doubts dominate our beliefs.
What does rejection do to a person?
Of all the rejections I encountered till now, I remember one particular instance from my college days. A branch-wise event was to be conducted and our seniors had called us to select participants for that. There was a particular event related to dance and acting, where I wanted to participate eagerly, but was rejected because of my short height. The seniors told me that it would be a mismatch if I performed with others. This incident was not so major still whenever I think about it, I am like, Oh God! Only this short height was the reason! Could I do something about that?
As I have already mentioned above, this particular incident like other rejections left me disheartened. Such is the impact of a single rejection on a person.
Hence it becomes essential to find healthy ways to cope up with rejection that can help you get through it without affecting your mental health. Here are 7 healthy ways that can help you in knowing how to deal with rejection.
1. Accept
Rather than suppressing, complaining, denying, or ignoring the pain, you need to accept your rejections. There is always a reason behind any rejection. Maybe that particular event, person, or thing was not meant for you. But in the end, everything ends up working out, sometimes even better than you can imagine.
2. Learn from your rejections
There is always something to learn from, whether it’s a person or a situation. The same logic applies to rejection too. In fact, it is one of the best teachers. If any person or any organization rejected you but with constructive feedback, take their criticism on a positive note and use it to improve yourself. Maybe your skills weren’t strong enough this time, or you need to work on your game, your studies, your interview technique, or whatever it takes to improve your chances of getting accepted next time. Use the rejection as an opportunity for self-improvement.
3. Stop being too hard on yourself
It’s completely okay to encounter feelings of guilt, embarrassment, sadness, and anger in response to being rejected. What’s not okay is being too hard on yourself. Always remember you are unique. Being rejected doesn’t mean we aren’t liked, valued, or important. It just means that at one time, in one situation, or with one person, things didn’t work out. And that’s completely fine. Isn’t it?
So, instead of bombarding yourself with the limiting beliefs, why not practice some self-care? Self-care is a great way to rebuild your lost confidence in yourself. It includes taking care of your body physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Eat healthily, stay hydrated and exercise enough to release feel-good hormones.
After all, you just can’t sit back and only cry for being rejected. Life goes on, and so do you have to keep moving forward. This will only be possible if you take care of yourself first.
Also read: How affirmative self-talk affects our life?
4. Take a pause
Rejection gives you a chance for introspection. Give yourself some time to process your emotions. Take a break. Why not try some remedies for mental stability? After all, rejection hurts your mental health the most. Focus all your energy on the present and think about what went wrong and what can you do about it? If it’s in your hand, then implement the necessary changes and if it’s not, leave it and move on.
5. Do something you love
Do you have a favorite musical instrument to play? Or a favorite photo album that you like to watch repeatedly? Do something that makes you happy, as doing something that you love can help in distracting you from the pain of rejection. It is also a reminder for you that there is much more to life than this temporarily missed opportunity.
6. Try again soon
It’s okay to not want to go for job interviews after being rejected so many times, but you need to understand that avoiding those situations is not a solution. What’s not okay is just stopping there or not trying again. If we won’t try, we will not be benefited in any way. Try investing or looking for other opportunities rather than dwelling on the lost one. You can’t miss out on new opportunities and regret them later. Use your rejection as fuel to your life’s engine.
Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
7. Surround yourself with positive people and positive emotions
Spending time with the people you love can help boost your self-esteem especially if you are experiencing self-hatred or self-doubt after being rejected. Discussing your emotions with someone close to you can help you navigate your feelings better. Find out who in your life supports you during hard times, and never hesitate to seek their help. Remember, someone’s vibes only are sufficient to make you feel valued.
Also read: 6 signs of a person with a strong aura
Final Thoughts
Rejection can be our greatest catalyst to success. It is the proof of our value and uniqueness. Sometimes rejection is the universe’s way of saying you don’t need something in your life. It allows us to turn the initial pain into strength to become a better version of ourselves. But it needs to be handled properly and this can be made a crucial component to ending the rising anxiety, depression, and mental health, in general.
Note that every rejection you had in the past does not stick with you now. In a similar way, the rejection for which you are weeping right now will again fade in the future. Just think once. Why waste your quality time being sad for something like this, whose existence is itself temporary? Make yourself strong enough so that rejection has little impact on you and you are still persistent toward your life goals.
Share with us how you cope with rejection. Which method works best for you?
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