Rejection hurts. There’s really no way around it.
Most people want to belong and connect with others, especially people they care about. Feeling rejected by those people and believing you aren’t wanted whether it’s for a job, dating, or friendship, isn’t a pleasant experience.
It’s easy to understand then why many people dread and even fear rejection. If you’ve experienced it once, or a few times, you probably remember how much it hurt and worry about it happening again.
But fearing rejection can hold you back from taking risks and reaching for big goals. Fortunately, it’s absolutely possible to work through this mindset with a bit of work.
The fear of rejection can even become a self-fulfilling prophecy. When you are so focused on others rejecting you, you may actually invite more rejection. This is the law of attraction: You get what you focus on. If you focus on what you don’t want, you’ll get what you don’t want, instead of what you do want.
Below are the ways you can conquer the fear of rejection:
- Crash restricting beliefs: It is often said that your beliefs create your world. If your beliefs are negative, they will be holding you back from having everything you ever dreamed of. If you have a fear of rejection, you need to break down limiting beliefs around your own self-worth and skills. Do you believe that rejection is a reflection of your worth? It isn’t. Do you believe you aren’t deserving of a fulfilling career? You are. These are the beliefs you need to identify and change.
- Let go of the past: Many of our limiting beliefs come from our past experiences, but your past does not determine your future unless you live there. If you’re wondering how to overcome the fear of rejection, you’ve likely been rejected in the past and took it very personally. You must let go of the past, release the hurt and shame you felt, and realize that rejection doesn’t make you any less worthy of happiness.
- Build inner strength: The truth is, successful people, fail constantly. The reason why it’s not always obvious is that they quickly pick themselves up, learn the lesson and get back in the game. How can they do this? They all have one thing in common: inner strength. They believe that life happens for you, not to you. This perspective allows them to reframe obstacles as opportunities and create a deep, unstoppable belief in themselves.
- Look for the learning opportunity: learning never ends, regardless of how knowledgeable you think you are. It may not seem like it right away, but rejection can provide opportunities for self-discovery and growth. For example; you applied for a job you really want and had a great interview, but you didn’t get the job. This might devastate you at first. But after taking a second look at your resume, you decide it wouldn’t hurt to brush up on some skills and learn how to use a new type of software.
In conclusion, Rejection can sting and make you doubt yourself. But 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 you can’t change can help you feel less afraid of the possibility.
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