Rejection Sucks

Rejection sucks.

Rejection is something that happens to everyone–even the most successful people.

Unfortunately, it’s part of life. (But it still sucks)

You might wonder if you’re good enough, whether you should keep going, and whether you have what it takes to achieve what you want to achieve. These are all normal feelings.

Rejection may suck, but it shouldn’t hold you back from getting what you want. It’s part of building success. It’s a critical step in getting to be who and where you were meant to be.

So how do you get over the sting of rejection?

Realize it’s ok to feel bad. It’s completely normal to be upset by rejection. You may feel like you’re “less than” or question your qualifications and aspirations. It’s ok to feel and experience emotions and cry it out if you have to. Allow yourself these feelings and then move forward.

Give yourself grace. You’re not perfect. In fact, no one is — and that’s ok. It’s ok to ask for help and admit that you don’t have all the answers. Remember that you’re still who you were before the rejection. Take a break, go for a walk, listen to music — just be kind to yourself.

Get out of your head. You may start over-analyzing every little thing you did or said to find just where something went wrong. Instead of replaying the scenario over and over in your head, go directly to the source and ask for feedback. Use that information and turn it into a learning experience to help you better prepare for the next time.

Check in with your squad. Reach out to your support crew and cheerleaders to help combat those negative feelings. Sometimes getting an outside perspective helps see the bigger picture. Go for coffee, vent, and hug it out (or however you support each other — wine is always welcome too).

Ultimately you may not be able to change the outcome, but you can choose how to manage it and push through despite it.

Rejection still sucks — but maybe just a little less.