Even though rejection is a painful part of our lives, it is important to find a healthy way to accept it and move on so that it does not negatively impact our mental health. Rejection may trigger inner fears and doubts about ourselves. The trick to facing rejection and not letting it ruin us is dependent on our attitude towards rejection. If we see it as a form of failure, it is more likely to affect us negatively than if we see it as a lesson to learn and an opportunity to grow from. The pain can cut pretty deep, too. In fact, rejection stimulates the same regions in the brain that physical pain does.
Rejection has detrimental impacts on our mental health – a prevalent effect being depression as rejection has been linked to the development of depression. Furthermore, bullying, which is essentially a combination of ostracism and rejection, can have numerous negative effects, including depression, stress, eating disorders, and self-harming behaviors.
How to Deal with Rejection
- Reject negative self-talk. It is easy to fall into a pattern of self-criticism after experiencing rejection. This just reinforces your belief that the rejection was your fault when it may have had nothing to do with you at all. If you believe that someone will reject you because you are not good enough, this fear can move forward with you and become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If things do not pan out as expected, then you can still practice self-compassion by giving yourself the same advice that you would give a loved one in the same situation.
- Keep things in perspective. If you are more sensitive to rejection and spend a lot of time worrying about it, you might imagine a lot of worst-case scenarios. This creates a negative domino effect where you may be afraid to aspire to achieve your dreams, therefore creating a loop of self-doubt.
- Find a support system to lean on. Spending time with people who reinforce the knowledge that you are wanted can help you cope with rejection more effectively. This offers an individual with support and encouragement even when their goals do not succeed. With a stable support system, the fear of rejection is likely to be less scary.
Trying out rejection scenarios with your close friends can also be an alternate method to deal with rejection before it happens.
Rejection can sting and make you doubt yourself. However, fearing it may limit you, preventing you from experiencing much of what life has to offer. Choosing to look at rejection as an opportunity for growth instead of something that you are unable to change can help you feel less afraid of the possibility.