There is that need, a fundamental one, to be accepted by others, to belong, and such an innate innate drive for social connections means that rejection, whether real or perceived, can be deeply painful. Many of the same brain regions which are involved in physical pain, lead to feelings of hurt and of distress; many of us have been turned down, dismissed, or not accepted at some point in various aspects of life, including relationships, job positions, social groups or personal endeavors.
It’s a common experience that most will encounter at some point, and it can bring forth a range of intense emotions, starting with hurt. Impacted feelings is often a consistent and direct reaction, triggered by the perception that others just do not value a relationship. with the most intense hurt frequently emanating from familial situations.
Then, we have social media and online interactions which create entirely new avenues for rejection, completely blowing situations out of proportion in some cases. Such rejections in this context can be more public, definitely visible, and can lead to increased feelings of shame and embarrassment. Of course, this can be painful but there can be coping mechanisms which allow for growth and resilience.
If we move to accept the reality of a rejection by acknowledging our feelings and allow time for processing we then can learn to recognize that such rejection is often situational and not a reflection of our overall worth. Reach out to friends, family or other means for emotional support and perspective, engage in positive activities, view any rejection as a learning opportunity and a chance to develop new skills or pursue different paths.
Attempt to counter negative thoughts with positive affirmations whenever possible, move to develop coping skills, set necessary boundaries in our social media circles and focus on real-life connections. By doing so, we can navigate rejection effectively, build resilience, emotional protection, and move forward toward personal growth and fulfilling connections.
From the Writer’s Workshop: Write a post based on the word rejection. Write a post in exactly 11 sentences.
