Have you ever heard of the term “fear of rejection?” You may have felt this way many times before. Whether you’re waiting on a life changing decision or if you finally got up enough nerve to ask someone out, the word NO is not something people want to hear.
However, rejection is unfortunately a part of life, and dealing with it head on will help prepare you for the next time it rears its ugly head. People deal with rejection in different ways, turning to other outlets such as shopping, drinking, partying or overworking. There are healthier ways to handle it and to possibly prevent the feelings of anger, fear and/or sadness.
The actual fear of rejection may also be a fear of losing control. People who are used to controlling every aspect of their life will have fear when facing judgment or a major decision has to be made by someone else, which could lead to rejection. One of the most important things to remember before facing a possible rejection is to remain positive and do not beat yourself up. Rejection can be used as a learning experience. No matter what the situation is, you can always learn from it.
Tips on handling rejection:
1. Do no take rejection personal. Even when the rejection comes from a loved one or the opposite sex, you cannot take it personally. There could be other circumstances that may have led to the rejection, things that may not have anything to do with you. Taking rejection personally will not only upset you but also bring down your self esteem. Did he say no because I’m … Did I not get the job because I … You get the point.
2. Build confidence within yourself. If you have confidence a little rejection will not bring you down. When faced with rejection, stand with your head up high, and keep it up, even after the news is delivered. Having confidence will also help divert the rejection. When in an interview, be confident and don’t ever think that you will not get the job or position. If you receive a rejection, say thank you anyway, and remain confident. Rejection helps build character; the more confident you are the less rejection.
3. Don’t play the blame game. When people are rejected they automatically find someone else to blame. It’s your kid’s fault that you were late to the interview. It’s your friend’s fault for introducing you to a loser who later rejected you. Do not blame others for the rejection. Part of being rejected is taking responsibility for your own actions. Blaming others for things they had nothing to do with is immature and it will not help you get over your rejection.
4. Do not become a victim of rejection. There always seems to be that same person who gets rejected time and time after. Ever wonder why he or she is a victim of rejection? While there is no sure way to avoid rejection in life, you should not be a victim of it either. If there is a path you take that ends in rejection every time, it is time to readjust and analyze your decisions. Some people enjoy the same pain over and over again, which is not healthy.
5. Move on. After finding out about the rejection, you should get over it as quickly as possible. It is hard, but harboring over the rejection will not make the person or place change their mind. Once the decision is made, you need to make the decision of letting it go. The longer you worry about it the harder it will be to move on. Everyone has been rejected in life at one point or another; it is not the end of the world when you are rejected. Get over it!
Jillian Ballard is a blogger with a fresh perspective. She writes about everything from love & relationships to fashion. Contact her at http://jbisjuststartin.blogspot.com/