No one likes to get rejected. In fact, many have a fear of rejection. It hurts to be rejected by a friend or loved one or turned down for a job that we want. It’s hard not to take it personally, and we tend to worry about if it’s something we did to deserve the rejection. However, rejection doesn’t have to be all bad. If you learn to embrace rejection, it can help with your personal development. Here’s how you can find ways to embrace rejection and turn it into a benefit.
Learn To Embrace Your Flaws
Rejection is a part of life, and there is no way to escape it entirely. The key to coping with rejection is to have the right mindset about it. People are often afraid of rejection because it can sometimes point out flaws in themselves. Instead of avoiding the fact that we have these flaws, we should learn to embrace rejection and embrace our imperfections. Everyone has weaknesses or areas they can improve in themselves. If you want to overcome your weaknesses, you will need to recognize and accept your flaws. The first step to growth is to accept your flaws. Embrace the fact that you are human. Humans are continually growing and developing. Our growth often comes from a place of rejection and failure. Once we identify what the weakness is, we can learn how to overcome it. The question we should ask ourselves is, “Why did that person reject me?”. If you can answer that question, then you can take steps to improve.
Stop Caring What Other People Think
Realize that nobody is better than you, just as you are not better than others. We are all created equal. We all have strengths and weaknesses. Peer pressure doesn’t stop when we graduate from high school and enter adulthood. Many people live in fear of judgment from others who they perceive to be better than them. If you find yourself thinking this way, you will need to mentally take these people off the pedestal you put them on. It is your life to live, so live free of external judgment. Learn to stop caring about what others think about you. Love yourself for who you are and who you were created to be.
Learn What You Really Want Or Don’t Want Out Of Life
Rejection can be a blessing in disguise. For example, have you ever gone on a job interview that you felt you were not qualified for? When you were turned down for the job offer, did you feel relief? Or perhaps you were qualified, but your heart was not in it. Either way, if you were to get the job, you would be very stressed or very bored and get burned out. In this scenario, when rejection comes in the form of not getting the job, you learned a valuable lesson. You learned what you really want or don’t want in your career and life. It means that there is a better opportunity for you ahead.
Use Rejection To Develop A “Thick Skin”
If you are a sensitive person, that is perfectly fine. You are who you were created to be. But that can mean your feelings are hurt a lot. Your sensitivity can make it difficult in your career. If you are afraid of conflict and rejection, you may build up emotional walls or keep quiet when you want to speak up. For people in sales, hearing the word “no”, is the norm. Not everyone wants or needs the product or service they sell. That doesn’t always mean they have failed or that it’s anything personal against them. People in sales usually develop a “thick skin” that allows them not to feel the pain of rejection. Otherwise, that would not be the business for them. Embrace rejection as a way to “toughen up”. It can help you develop into someone with confidence.
Re-evaluate What The Rejection Really Means
Rather than view the rejection as a personal character assassination, use it as a learning experience. Ask for feedback if you are turned down for a job or promotion, so you can learn what areas you need to improve on. If it’s a personal rejection from someone you care about, don’t just write them off for good. Try to understand the reason behind it. Maybe the saying “It’s not you, it’s me” really is true. Perhaps they have a weakness they recognize in themselves, and being around you highlights it to them because you are stronger in that area. Sometimes friendships grow apart because you are in two different seasons in your life. You may be experiencing success in life, while the other person feels like a total failure lately. In this case, learning the reason for the rejection may be beneficial. It can open up the line of communication so that you can mentor and help the person.
Rejection Is Not Permanent
Just because you got turned down once doesn’t mean you will always get turned down. For example, you may get turned down three or four times before you get the job offer when applying for a job. But, on the other hand, it may mean you have areas where you can grow before given the opportunity.