Being rejected is a human experience that nobody can skip, and when it happens you can feel like a failure, but the feeling will pass. When it will pass it depends on the person, but here are some ways to cope with rejection:

Cry in your bed

When you first get hit with the taste of rejection, the first reaction for most people is to start crying. So much has been said on the internet about how crying is a sign of weakness, when in fact crying is a moment of strength and vulnerability that leads to the release of emotions. There is nothing wrong with feeling emotions heavily especially when faced with rejection.My mom said it best: “give it a day to get your emotions out; the next day you try to make it better.”

Treat yourself

Just because you got rejected, it does not mean the work you put in should be discredited. When you are done crying, go and get yourself a treat, whether it be a concrete mixer from Culvers, or a refresher from Starbucks. You deserve to feel proud of yourself for the hard work you put in. Not everyone is willing to put themselves out there to be rejected.

Evaluate what could have been

Sometimes when you think about it, the opportunity may not have been the best for you. If there are too many what ifs you are thinking of when you look back on the opportunity, then it was probably best you are being redirected. 

Seek out new opportunities

Rejection creates a path for new opportunities. Once you feel better, try googling similar opportunities to see what is out there. When another door closes, another one opens. You might feel like you do not have much spark left in you to try again, but give yourself time. This might not give us what we want, it’s better than being permanently stung by rejection.