Rejection is never easy. Whether you tried out for a sports team, auditioned for a musical, or applied to a school, most of us have been told no. Personally, I've been rejected in all three of those situations. But, guess what? I'm still here and I'm still perfectly fine. So here are a few tips to get through the sting of rejection.
1. Let it out!
It's okay to cry. There is no point in keeping the pain or anger you feel bottled up inside. It's unhealthy and difficult to deal with on your own. Just let it all out! I suggest having one or two people you can go to, to vent, cry and yell with. Whether that person is your mom, best friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, just let the tears flow. There's one rule to this though: you can't be upset for days on end. Some rejections are worse than others and you may need more time, but give yourself a limit and stick to it. Continuously being upset is equally as unhealthy as not letting it out at all.
2. Ask for feedback.
This applies more to being rejected from a team, show, group, etc. For example, if you tried out for the basketball team at your high school and didn't make it, go to the coach on your own time and ask what you need to work on. Knowing what your weaknesses are is extremely helpful and important. If you never ask what you did wrong, you'll never work on them, and never get better. Asking questions is the best way to improve!
3. Be supportive.
Odds are, you have friends or classmates who got on the team, in the show or in the school you were rejected from. Being supportive of them is so important because no one wants to be around someone who is bitter and jealous. Let's say you were accepted into a school and your friend was not. Your friend is upset so he/she starts bashing the school, making you feel like your acceptance wasn't deserved. It would make you pretty mad, right? I know I would be! So go to your friends game, or show, and be sure to congratulate them on their accomplishment even if you failed.
4. There will always be other opportunities.
This is not the end of the world. There will be plenty of other sports teams, plays, musicals, schools, etc. You have the rest of your life to be accepted. Being rejected hurts, its hard to not take it personally, and its hard to get back up from it. Being rejected has a way of making you doubt yourself and your abilities, but keeping positive and remembering that you'll always have another chance is key.
5. Work your a** off.
Don't let rejection hinder you from continuing to improve and work on your craft. Let rejection be the fuel to working even harder than you did before. Take the feedback you got, and run with it. Rejection is truly a blessing in disguise because it makes the acceptance and accomplishments feel that much better. When you're rejected, don't let it stop you, let it push you even further and harder.
Japanese Proverbs has the quote: "Fall down seven times, stand up eight." This quote helps me get through the times that I'm rejected because it reminds me that giving up isn't an option. Although I've fallen down way more than seven times, I'll continue to get back up again because a goal is a goal and I refuse to quit. And neither should you! Keep trying, you'll have your time to shine!
