Rejected: When Life Feels Like a Bad Tinder Date

Rejection is hard. It reminds me of my elementary school days in gym class, praying that I would not be the last picked for kickball. That feeling of standing alone, knowing that you are a mercy pick because there simply was no one better to choose.

Rejection doesn’t feel better as we get older. And being in a male-dominated industry, rejection is likely a fear that you live with daily. Whether it comes in the form of laughter at a mistake you made, a good idea being dismissed, or not being invited to lunch with the rest of the crew.

Rejection sucks.

But perhaps we are still seeing rejection through the eyes of our elementary school selves. Maybe rejection is not something to be feared, but something to be welcomed. I know that sounds weird, but perception is reality, and if our perception about rejection is that it is something to be avoided, then our reality is that rejection is bad.

But the funny thing about rejection is that it paves the way for resilience, reevaluation, and appreciation. If we stop looking at rejection as a problem then perhaps instead we will see an opportunity.

Think about it. Rejection builds mental toughness and resilience. It creates a space for our energy to be put toward things that really matter. It helps us to not take ourselves too seriously, and it pushes us out of our comfort zones, which is where real growth happens.

So the next time you feel like the little girl hoping that you are not the last picked at kickball, look for the opportunities to grow. And remember, you can’t be the Comeback Queen if you were never down.