HOW I OVERCOME REJECTION
Whether we’re faced with rejection from dating or in our careers, even rejection from our families or community, we all face it at some point in our lives. For me, I know rejection like a Taylor Swift song, all too well. It makes it even harder when you’re faced with simply the fear of being rejected alone. It’s inevitable, but there are a couple of things we should keep in mind when dealing with the rejection so that we can overcome it quickly and be the best we can be!
Acknowledged Your Fear
Understand the feelings and fears you’re experiencing are valid. These feelings are real and completely normal. Rejection is hard and painful, but unavoidable. Accept these uncomfortable emotions because as hard as it is, this is growing your capacity to feel. Take it for what it is, and give yourself time to feel. Process them and learn from these feelings. If we numb our negative emotions, it will actually numb our positive ones as well. So allow yourself to feel all the uncomfortable emotions, and in time, this will allow you to actually be happier.
Give Yourself Time, but Not Too Much
I always think it’s so healing and therapeutic to have a good cry session. Never underestimate the power of tears. If you’re not someone who cries easily, like myself, take the time to be angry, scared, or frustrated. Listen to rage music or go to a shooting range if you have to. Be depressed a day, wallow in it and talk to your girlfriends about it. But there has to be a place where you draw the line, so give yourself a time frame. It’s easy to get caught up in your wallow, so try to cut yourself off at a certain point, so that you can start to move on.
Surround Yourself With a Strong Support System
This is so important. The only way, as humans, we can get through hard times, including rejection, is with a strong support system. I typically think of my girlfriends or my parents but don’t forget about the power of prayer, if you’re someone who is spiritual. During this time, it’s crucial to have someone to hold on to, listen to you, and tell you that you are freaking awesome! This allows the healing process to work that much faster.
Discover a Passion
People always tell you to stay busy during low times, but even as much as you try to distract yourself, you still may find your emotions slipping back into that sadness, anger, or worry. In my experience, instead of finding distractions, learn to find a passion. Find a hobby or activity that you really enjoy and can fully lose yourself in, even for just a moment. This emersion will immediately uplift your spirits and put your emotions in a better place - I guarantee it!
Find your Inner Strength
Strength doesn’t always mean being happy or pretending to be happy for those around you. In fact, it’s counterproductive to always be happy. Strength means having the will and stamina to continue moving forward, one foot in front of the other. Getting back up when you’ve been knocked down. Once you’ve taken the time to reconcile with any pain or anger you may have, now it’s time to take action. Let’s get back to dating again, apply for those jobs, or focus on yourself. Whatever you need to do to keep moving forward, that is strength.
Visualize Success - Fake It Till You Make It
As cliche as this one sounds, it’s actually clinically proven by visualizing yourself as the person you want to be, or in a different environment, changes begin to take place in the brain. So by using imagination, over time with practice, strengthens the pathways in our brain. It’s basic muscle memory. Meaning, we may overtime actually begin to act and appear as this happier, more successful person we’re envisioning to be. Not only is this making our brains happier, so to speak, but we will outwardly appear happier, more confident individuals to others.
Take this as a Learning Opportunity
Decide to take this opportunity as a learning experience. Were there any red flags, mixed signals, or any signs that may have lead up to this event? Or, maybe reflecting and taking the realization that it may have been you, a hard but necessary pill to swallow. Is there anything that you could do differently in the future? Instead of repeating the past, let’s take this learning opportunity and reflect so that we can avoid the same trauma twice.
Rejection hurts, in any form. Give yourself a little grace during this period, go easy! By surrounding yourself with loved ones that support you and having a strong sense of self-worth, you can get through anything. Remember to forgive and love yourself at the end of each day. Take peace in the little joys of life, pray to God (!!!) and I promise things will work out just fine!
Outfit Details:
Dress: Reddress
Boots: Dolce Vita
Belt: Vintage Guess
