HOW TO DEAL WITH REJECTION

HOW TO DEAL WITH REJECTION

Rejection is something every person deals with at some point in his or her life. It can be painful and harsh, and it can stay with us for a long time.

However, it’s a part of life we just need to work through. Sometimes we come out better on the other side of rejection than we would have been if we had gotten it. As scripture reminds us, God will be there for us to ease the sting of rejection. Says Kelli Mahoney

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.