Rejection is hard to swallow, but it doesn’t have to be. There are all types of rejection. Your idea might be rejected from work. You might be rejected for a date. Maybe your latest novel was rejected by the publisher. These things happen on a regular basis.
Most of us make two mistakes: We take rejection personally and we fail to learn from rejection.
Rejection is going to happen unless you hide in your home, but you learn to make the most of it.
Rejection can be a stepping stone to something greater. See how:
- Consider the source of the rejection. Some rejections don’t mean anything and there’s nothing to learn. For example, If you were rejected when asking someone for a date, there’s probably not much you can learn. Everyone has their own issues and preferences.
However, if you were rejected for a job, there might be something you can glean from the rejection.
- Seek to grow from the rejection. Use the rejection as a chance to grow and improve. Find out why you were rejected and use the information to better yourself. For example, if you didn’t get a job because you were too nervous during the interview, you know what you need to work on.
- Be kind to yourself. If you’re not getting rejected at all, you’re not trying very hard. So, be nice to yourself. Remind yourself that rejection is part of the game of life. Encourage yourself to do better next time and to persist.
- Talk to a trusted mentor or friend. If you’re feeling down, a good friend can give you the emotional support you need at this challenging time. A good mentor can give you advice that will help in the future.
- Remember your successes. You don’t fail or receive rejection all of the time. You’ve had plenty of successes, too. Remember your successes and you’ll gain back your self-confidence and be ready for another attempt.
- Use rejection as an opportunity to be excited. Most of the success is doing what others aren’t willing to do. The average person gives up quite easily. You separate yourself from the pack just by pushing forward and refusing to quit.
- Plan ahead for failure. Expect that you’ll face failure and rejection from time to time. If you’re ready for it, it will be easier to manage. You might even have a plan in place for how you’ll handle failure. When you’re prepared for the worst, your fear of it fades.
- Avoid worrying. This might sound easier said than done, but you can choose to not worry about it. Just decide that you’re not going to worry about rejection and get on with living your life.
- Avoid making it personal. We don’t like rejection because we take it personally. But 99% of the rejection you’ll experience has nothing to do with you personally. You simply did the wrong thing or didn’t possess the right mix of characteristics at that time. You’re constantly evolving.
- You might not be the right person for a particular situation. Just like a fork isn’t the right tool for eating a bowl of cereal. It doesn’t devalue the fork.
Rejection doesn’t need to be fatal or final. There are an endless number of opportunities in the world and rejection is always a possibility. If you fear rejection, you’re severely limiting yourself.
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