Rejection is a universal experience. Whether it’s a job application that doesn’t get the response we hoped for, a personal relationship that doesn’t work out, or an opportunity that passes us by, it can be disheartening and challenging to face. But rejection doesn’t have to be a defeat. In fact, it can be a chance for growth and an essential part of our journey toward resilience.
First let’s look at a few different types of rejection:
Dating or relationship rejection, perhaps it’s a stranger who you’ve asked on a date who says no, or a partner that you have been dating for several months who has broken up with you. This type of rejection can hurt, you may be thinking that there is something wrong with you or put your feelings of rejection onto that person and think they’re in the wrong for rejecting you. However, this is a part of life and can happen for a variety of reasons and you shouldn’t try and get this person to change their minds. Everyone has the right to say “no” and they do not need to provide an explanation.
Social rejection, this type of rejection can be very impactful to us and may shape the way we live and behave in future relationships. This could look like a new or old group of friends not inviting you to an event. A friend leaving you out of plans or a friendship ending abruptly. In this type of rejection, we may be left wondering what happened and feeling hurt and maybe even angry.
Professional rejection, we applied for a job that we really wanted and didn’t hear anything back, this type of rejection may hurt less as we didn’t have much riding on this job. However, maybe you planned a big presentation, and it didn’t get the reaction that you were hoping for or maybe it got turned down altogether.
It’s completely natural to feel disappointment, frustration, or even anger when you face rejection. These emotions are part of the process, and it’s okay to give yourself permission to feel them. But it’s equally important not to let those feelings define you or derail your next steps. Take time to acknowledge your emotions and understand why you feel the way you do. This is the first step toward processing and moving forward.
All these types of rejections can be hurtful; however, we can learn to handle rejection and take it in stride, learning along the way how to handle rejection with greater ease.