Rejection is Part of Life
Unfortunately, rejection is something none of us can really avoid; it’s probably going to happen to us at some point. The Bible reminds us that it happens to everyone, including Jesus.
Psalm 118:22
The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone. Psalm 118:2
DEALING WITH REJECTION
Getting rejected can be hard. It can make you sad, hurt, surprised, or angry. In general, getting rejected rarely feels good. So how do people deal with it? This factsheet is to share some tools and strategies to help you prepare for, cope with, and recover from rejection.
Why does rejection hurt sometimes?
Rejection hurts. It often feels personal, like we weren’t good enough for someone or something, and that can lead us to lots of other negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves. And sometimes that emotional pain can feel similar in our bodies to physical pain (e.g., feeling your heart drop, getting a headache or feeling woozy, noticing a rising “fight or flight” sensation, etc.).
Before Rejection
One way to take the sting out of rejection is to be ready for it. This doesn’t mean that you should stop caring about things or stop taking risks. Instead, it means thinking about why you want things and experiences, what it means when you can’t have them, and recognizing where you may need supports to help you feel less alone if and when rejection happens. Here are some things to consider.