Do you ever feel rejected? I know I sure have and continue to have those moments from time to time. Rejection is a part of life that you will continue to face, especially if you are following your dreams. However, dejection is a choice you make when you allow those rejections to take a toll. When you can see the good in the rejection it lessens the sting. It might still sting, just not as long. 🙂
If you are like me, you’ve applied for a job that you knew you were perfect for only to receive the “thank you but we’re sorry email as the company went with someone else”. Or better yet, they tell you that you aren’t their caliber or you don’t even hear back from them. Perhaps your first encounter with rejection came from filling out college applications and choosing the one school that you had your heart on only to be turned away and you had to look at your second, third, or fourth choice. Then there is the rejection of the heart…love. You know he/she is right for you but the feelings are purely one-sided…yours. Of course, the depth of rejection can intensify when it’s from longer relationships from being laid off, fired, flunking out of school, or long-term romantic relationships ending.
Rejection is certainly a part of life and I have had my fair share. The worst probably coming years and years ago when on the very same day a company I had given my blood, sweat, and tears to threatened to fire me and the man I thought was the love of my life ended our relationship. I had never been in trouble at that company and ‘my man’ and I had just spoken about our future the day before. This took place on a Friday. I was in a state of shock and felt dejected and terribly hurt. My weekend was filled with many tears and questions of why did this happen and how did I not see it. However, by Sunday night I asked myself why would I want to be at a company that felt that way about me or with a man that wasn’t all in? Within a few months, I had a new job that valued me and I loved. Now, I didn’t get over my heartbreak quite as quickly, but I did realize if someone wasn’t full-in with me, they weren’t going to get me fully either. Had I not gone through that experience, I might still be at that company and not doing what I love to do – reminding people they MATTER in this world.
There are many lessons to learn when dealing with rejection and the biggest to me is to not let it turn into dejection. The many times I’ve been rejected in my life, maybe not in the moment, but soon thereafter, something occurred showing me why that experience happened and I grew from it.
Moving forward, I invite you to work through any rejection you might be feeling by:
LOVING yourself through it. The opinion of others is their opinion. YOU need to know you are worthy of a great career, great education, amazing LOVE, and anything that makes you come alive.
Appreciating the experience: When you are able to see the good in any experience, yes even the crappy ones, you allow better to come.
Giving Thanks: Because of the rejection, you are now open to allowing in people and experiences that are aligned to your vision and excited to be on this journey with you.
Mostly, my wish is for you to realize you are worthy of living your best life and any and all rejections along the journey are simply allowing your to hone your wants rather than focusing on your don’t wants. I invite you to WANT people and experiences who are all in on living and LOVING bigger and better with you.
Until next time, let me be the first to congratulate you on being the best YOU possible!
Affirmation:
I surround myself with people who believe in me as I do them.
Words to LOVE by:
“It is not rejection itself that people fear, it is the possible consequences of rejection. Preparing to accept those consequences and viewing rejection as a learning experience that will bring you closer to success, will not only help you to conquer the fear of rejection, but help you to appreciate rejection itself.” ~ Bo Bennett
“A rejection is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success.” – Bo Bennett
“If someone rejects you, instead of thinking they don’t like you say to yourself: ‘How can I change my approach to get what I want?’” ~ Jerry Bruckner
Sounds for Your Soul: