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When was the last time you were rejected?
Rejection comes in all different shapes and sizes. Through a text, an email, word of mouth, or a letter perhaps. Through a polite “thanks, but no thanks” sugar coated speech, a lack of invitation or that sense of not really fitting in. Rejection is a card that all of us have no doubt been dealt at some point and will meet again a number of times in our future. But how do you handle the aftermath of rejection?
Do you lock yourself away, cry, rebel or do you simply just move on? I literally cannot count the amount of times that I have been rejected. I’ve had an endless amount of emails where the content reads: “unfortunately, on this occasion, your application was unsuccessful” and then goes on to explain they will keep my details on file should I be suitable for anything else. Of course, I never was and that email never came. I remember having a crush on a boy in the year above for so long when I was in my early teens and then I remember him asking out my close friend. I remember being rejected when my chosen university declined my application and when an ex dumped me, too.
Initially that sudden sting of embarrassment, hurt or loss of morale comes into play, but it’s what you do from that moment on that teaches you the most about yourself. Sometimes it really is their loss, as cliché as it sounds, it’s true. Perhaps, though, it’s also a chance for you to look at how you progress. For example, if you applied for a job or placement and didn’t get accepted, maybe it’s worth asking someone to read over your CV, or simply talking to someone in that field who can give you a bit more insightful detail on what it is they look for.
Meeting new people is one of the greatest perks of being a human, every individual you meet is a new chance to create great experiences and memories. There may be some instances, however, when you feel as though you just don’t fit in. I always believed that the overwhelming sense of not fitting in is because you are in a situation or among people that you are not truly yourself with. Being around people who truly value you and all of your quirks is what feeds us life in so many ways, so why waste time with those that don’t?
I remember swapping numbers with someone I met at a festival once. We had the best time together and then I remember never hearing from him again, I also remember not being asked to go out on another date after (what I thought) was a good first. But although it stung in the original instance I now cringe, looking back at how wrong those situations were for me. Fast forward a lot of years later, settled with the love of my life and my best friend, I know those rejections led me to be exactly where I am supposed to be.
Being turned down, overlooked or passed on is never nice, but as long as we work on taking rejection and reshaping it into something else, something better, all of those moments can manifest into something even more spectacular.
