We’ve all experienced rejection, but very few of us have been prepared on how to handle rejection. When we don’t properly process rejection, it leads to a whole host of other issues such as insecurity, self-doubt and stagnation. Personally, I’ve experienced my fair share of rejection. From jobs to relationship to friendships, I know a thing or two about it. Reject hurts, but it’s not final. Here are a few tips on how to handle it:
Don’t Internalize it
When dealing with rejection, one thing you have to be sure not to do is internalize it. No one likes rejection. Unfortunately, what most of us tend to do, when we experience it is play it over and over again in our minds. We constantly think of what we did wrong, what we could’ve done differently, etc. Internalizing rejection keeps you feeling bad and stuck. There’s nothing wrong with looking back over a situation in order to learn the lesson, but once you’ve gotten the lesson, it’s time to move forward.
Don’t Take it Personal
Another key to handling rejection is not to take it personal. Everyone has experienced rejection at some point in life. Rejection doesn’t discriminate. This is why you can’t take it personal. There’s nothing about you, specifically, that has caused it to knock on your door. It’s knocked on everyone’s door, it just happened to be your turn. You weren’t rejected because you’re not smart, pretty or funny enough. You’ve experienced it because you’re human. And as long as you’re breathing it’ll happen again, so be ready.
Don’t Quit
There’s something about repeated rejection that’ll make you so exhausted you don’t even want to try again. If you’ve been job-hunting you know exactly what I mean. The repeated rejection letters and e-mails make you second-guess yourself, your skillset and everything else. You get to the point that you question whether or not you should even keep trying. Regardless the circumstances, repeated rejection makes you want to quit. However, you have to reject (pun intended) that feeling and keep going. All you need is that one yes, which for all you know, could be right around the corner.
Acknowledge the Feelings then Let it Go
None of us likes rejection. It produces all types of feelings like sadness, anger and confusion, to name a few. Too often, however, we’re accustomed to brushing our feelings aside and soldiering forward. Unfortunately, unresolved feelings tend to pop up later, creating a whole host of problems. When processing rejection, feel the feelings for as long as it takes for you to get over them, and then let them go. Don’t continue to rehearse them. Acknowledge them, process them, and then move on.
Rejection will have you feeling all the feels.
Know It’s Not the End
Finally, the main thing to remember with rejection is to know that it’s not the end. One employer may have rejected you, but there’s another job opportunity around the corner. One romantic partner may have cut you loose, but there’re plenty of fish in the sea. One bank may have turned down your loan application, but there’re other banks out there. One investor may have passed on your business, but s/he’s not the only investor in the world. One rejection doesn’t have the final say on your future.
What are some other keys on how to handle rejection? Drop a comment below. Also, if you found this post useful, please feel free to share it.