Rejection Recovery Plan

The devastation.

Getting rejected is like surviving an earthquake:  your foundation is shaken, you might get tossed about like a rag doll, treasured things are crushed and lost, and you don't know what to do once the blunt force is over.  Then you're expected to begin clean-up ASAP at a time where you're not feeling so steady on your feet.

Below are some ideas for that clean-up phase after a rejection.  The bottom line is to take some time as you lick your wounds, but stay out of the debris of self-pity.

1. Focus on what you have.

Take inventory of what you still have in your life. The people, the passions or hobbies, the sometimes taken-for-granted things like a roof over your head and that you don't have to go hungry.

Tapping into gratitude like this helps to put what happened into perspective and to prevent overwhelm.

2. Believe that it's not all about you.

For real.

It's easy to fall into the trap of over-thinking that 1) there's something wrong with you; 2) there must have been something you could have done to prevent this from happening; or 3) you failed at something, for example, if you didn't get a promotion.

Keep in mind that the decision that was made for you isn't only about you:   The other person may have his or her own self-doubts. There are things from the past he or she has not moved on from yet. Or that person may simply be looking for something or someone else.

Your Self-Esteem Toolbox

3. Strengthen your foundation.

Even if you have a healthy amount of self-esteem, you're not immune from the sting of rejection.  In difficult times, you'll need to dig into that toolbox containing your inner strengths, talents and abilities so to rebuild and strengthen your sense of self.

Doing so builds resilience.  Pick yourself up, find the lesson in the pain, make necessary adjustments, and move forward.

You survived this earthquake.  Equally as important, however, you're more ready for when the next one hits.

 

Source:  The Positivity Blog 

All images courtesy of Google Images unless otherwise noted.
(c) Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.