Overcoming The Fear Of Rejection

As hard as it can be to come to terms with - rejection is just a part of life. Rejection can feel super uncomfortable and it’s only natural to fear it. As humans, we definitely crave acceptance and validation, and having these feelings are important. But in saying that, rejection is also a vital part of our human experience and can guide us onto the right path. So how can we make ourselves feel better about putting ourselves into situations where we could confront that fear of rejection?

Grow into the ‘we only live once mindset’

Two things that I’ve decided to be really passionate about lately are speaking my mind and going for opportunities. We experience so many feelings and want to achieve so much in our lives, yet a lot of the time the only thing holding us back is the fear that we will be rejected. We really don’t have time to sit around and wait for our stories to write themselves. We need to pick up the pen and start creating some plot twists in the narrative. The story may be up and down at times but you’ll end up where you need to be :) Plus, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone always makes for the best stories.

You don’t want to go on never knowing if something would’ve been so right for you. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable and wearing your heart on your sleeve is such a beautiful trait to have and it is special to show people that. Think of it this way - say you like someone and they have no clue. I’m not going to say that they will 100% have these feelings in return if you do express them, but your honesty and vulnerability is definitely something they will never forget. And in this instance, it is much better to speak and to know, rather than going on about life and never knowing what could’ve been.

Look for the lessons

Let’s put it to you this way - missed opportunities defs hurt a lot more than a bit of rejection ever will. I have to say, as much as it may hurt, a little rejection here and there could be exactly what you need to steer you in the right direction. Didn’t get that job? There could be a great job opportunity coming for you next week. It might not happen in every circumstance, but sometimes things have a funny way of working out for the better. You can’t get exactly what you want all the time, there is no growth in that. The obstacles we face while trying to achieve what we want will only help us to find new solutions and contribute to a whole lot of character development. Honestly, it may sound random but I really believe that things not going exactly your way allows you to have broader perspective on life, and in a way helps you to have a greater level of empathy toward others. When faced with rejection, the best thing to do is to accept and grow from it. Trust that learning to overcome and grow from things is really teaching you how to kill it at life.

Validate your feelings 

Honestly throughout life it’s inevitable that you are going to face rejection at times. When you do, it’s so normal to feel down about it. Remember to validate all the emotions you are feeling towards the situation and take all the time you need to move on from it. Because when you are ready you will realise that holding onto feelings of rejection is no longer serving you and you will start looking for better things out there. 

 Rejection doesn’t need to be feared. I know it’s uncomfortable but remember that going for things and shooting your shot is what life is all about. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable is really one of the most exciting things we have. Whether things turn out perfectly, or you do get rejected, these stories and experiences are still going to shape the person you are.