If one thing is common amongst us, it’s facing rejection. As Kevin Feige once said, “Rejection is a common occurrence. Learning that early and often will help you build up the tolerance and resistance to keep going and keep trying.” Ask anyone if they’ve been on the receiving end in a relationship with a loved one? Been there, done that, will be the unanimous response. This is why we have decided to share our 6 tips for dealing with rejection and how you can use it to your advantage.
So What Is Rejection?
Rejection is a primary survival mechanism, an emotional response to a perceived loss. Rejection can be difficult to handle, whether you are new to a relationship or thought you were in it for the long haul. One minute everything is going well, and the next, you find yourself ghosted.
It’s normal and natural after being rejected to feel hurt, angry, shameful, discouraged, or depressed. Facing rejection isn’t easy, but it is possible.
Shifting Your Perspective About Rejection
Accept that rejection is inevitable. That nothing is perfect, and you will face rejection from time to time. Rejection can be quite a blow to the ego. One thing you’ll want to avoid is allowing yourself to get worked up and angry about it. Contemplate the person’s intention behind the rejection. Unless they explain their reasoning, their actions may feel personal rather than impersonal. But remember that many people do move on after rejection to have fulfilling and meaningful relationships.
6 Tips On Dealing With Rejection
1. See Rejection As A Necessary Step In The Process
Think of it as a journey, not an end goal. Rejection makes us feel vulnerable to hurt. It hurts because we care about what the other person thinks, and we don’t want to see them as the source of pain. Sometimes people even ignore the signs. But if you genuinely desire to make your relationships work, try to learn from the shortfalls and accept them as stepping stones.
2. Be Grateful For The Experience
Initially, you are going to see it as nothing but heartache. But later, you will see it as a learning experience. This is a time for you to become more resilient. Trust that you are on the right path to finding someone you are more compatible with.
3. Look At Rejection As A Quicker Way To Success
Pursue your dreams-! Don’t let anyone or rejection stop you. Concentrate on the positives in your life, and don’t look back. Determine your next steps to keep moving forward.
4. Tell Yourself That It’s Not About You
It’s about the other person and their needs. Sometimes rejection can be in the form of emotional manipulation by the person who is rejecting you. They don’t want to risk getting to know you because they’re afraid of getting emotionally involved with you. Habitually we blame ourselves, and this will only make dealing with the rejection harder.
5. Embrace Your Vulnerabilities And Imperfections
Our vulnerability and imperfections make you human. Tell yourself: “I’m human, I’m imperfect.” Be vulnerable & honest with others so they can’t hurt you. Feel all the emotions that come with being rejected and use them to propel you forward.
6. Seek Professional Help
With the above tips, overcoming rejection on your own is doable. However, if you see yourself avoiding relationships out of anxiety and fear of rejection, it’s best to consult a professional to help you through those fears.
Avoiding A Victimized Mindset
Rejection can leave you susceptible to depression, leading to the perpetuation of unhealthy relationships. During this time, you may feel defeated. Steer clear of the victim mentality by learning from past experiences of rejection.
You can succumb to your emotions, or you can let them empower you. It will be hard but avoiding negative self-talk, practicing self-care, being kind and compassionate to yourself will equip you to better cope with rejection the next time it happens. Because spoiler alert, it’s going to happen again. Remember it’s inevitable and part of life.
If you’re approaching a break-up, there are a few things you can do to help shift your mindset from one of a victim to one of a survivor. You may have had regrets about the relationship, but that doesn’t mean you should spend time thinking about it. One way to do this is to write down your thoughts and feelings as soon as you come across them. Even if it doesn’t seem productive at the moment, it may well prove helpful later when you need to go through them. Writing about your strengths and qualities will help build your self-worth.
Conclusion
Overcoming rejection in a relationship can be challenging, to say the least, however, if you follow these 6 tips for dealing with rejection, it is possible. Rejection is something that everyone goes through and to expect yourself to handle it perfectly under all circumstances is unrealistic. Don’t let rejection stop you in your tracks, and concentrate on the possibilities in the future. Accept that it happens, be grateful for it, shift your perspective, and don’t forget you’re human.
