Bouncing back after rejection

Rejection is never easy. Whether it is a returned manuscript, being passed over for a promotion or a job, or being turned down by a suitor, rejection feels awful. It's natural to be disappointed when we're rejected, especially if we had high hopes for that person, job, or promotion. If you've been hit with rejection, here are a couple of ways to help you bounce back.

Don't let your failure define you

Sure, your amazing new novel was rejected again, but so were lots of other great and worthy books. If J.K. Rowling had allowed her first 100 rejections to define her, we never would have gotten the Harry Potter series. You're not your failure. Failure just happens.

Give yourself some affirmation

When you get rejected, becoming self-critical is very normal. Of course you didn't get the promotion. You didn't stay late at work like Bill. It's easy to fall into the trap of criticizing ourselves when things go wrong, but this can make rejection feel even worse, and paralyze us from moving forward confidently.

You can help break the cycle by grabbing a pen, and writing self affirmations to yourself for 5 minutes. It's okay to praise yourself, and it's okay to feel good about the things you are good at, even after you've failed.

Take a hot shower

A study conducted at Yale University found that people tend to associate emotional warmth with physical warmth, although they may not be aware of it. People who have been rejected take longer and hotter showers than those that don't, and people who have held a hotpack in their hands tend to feel less lonely. 

A hot shower may not cure your rejection woahs, but it will make you feel better. The next time you're suffering from rejection, use these great tips to help you feel better and get back in the game faster.