Day 9 – “HOW TO DEAL WITH REJECTION”  

Welcome to another day that has the potential to bring change in your life. Remember to read this message out loud and read only this message for the day. You inspire for you to be inspired.

Remember: #ItsPossibleBecauseItsDoable

The rejection of another individual can be incredibly painful; a knowing that we can’t even begin to comprehend for many of us. Yet this is experienced on a daily basis for those living in poverty, for whom we too often remain silent and pass judgment without providing any assistance. For these individuals, our thoughtless words, dismissive glances, and prejudiced labelling can all serve as a harsh reminder of their social exclusion.

The most painful and embarrassing rejection I experienced took place between 2011 and 2013 while I was selling airtime, sweets, and snacks at the University of KwaZulu Natal’s Howard College. Shouting out across the campus, I invited potential customers to purchase. Few people knew my name; I was referred to only as ‘Airtime’ or ‘That Guy’. Many assumed I wasn’t even a student. Despite my ambitions to ask ladies out on dates, it became clear it was unlikely to happen, as those in my circle deemed me unworthy because of my business.

Rejection can be difficult to confront and cope with; however, it is essential to accept yourself first and foremost. Recognizing why you have been turned away can be trying, but understanding the cause enables you to pinpoint areas of yourself that may require improvement. If that means attempting to change, apologize, or work ardently, then do so. Acting irrationally arrogantly is not a way to confront rejection; instead, it entails dismissing and feigning that the setback has no effect on you.

Despite the occasional hurt and setbacks in life, it is important to not be too hard on oneself. After all, it can be heartbreaking for a Caterpillar to be denied access to the path it has worked so hard to create. It is inevitable that we will experience rejection, even when we have done nothing to provoke or provoke such a reaction. We should be mindful that not all open doors will be passageways into which we are welcome to walk.

Plan of Action:

1. Accept yourself – understand why the rejection took place and what areas need to be improved upon.

2. Don’t be too hard on yourself – rejection is inevitable, even if you have done nothing to provoke it.

3. Reframe the rejection as a lesson – focus on what can be learned from the experience and how to better approach similar situations in the future.

4. Reach out for support – talk to friends and family or join a support group to receive advice and build a resilient mindset.

5. Take time for self-care – practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques to promote emotional well-being.

6. Move on – try to stay positive and focus on the successes and progress that has been made rather than dwelling on the setbacks.

7. Help others – practice empathy and find ways to reach out to those in need to build a more connected society.

8. Refrain from passing judgement – reject the impulse to judge and be dismissive of others, instead put yourself in the other person’s shoes and treat others with respect.

Remember:

#ItsPossibleBecauseItsDoable

#KungenzekaNgobaKuyenzeka