My youngest daughter spent weeks in the thick of job interviews this summer. If you’ve ever job hunted, or watched someone you love go through it, you know how heavy it can feel. Every “no” starts to feel personal, even when it isn’t.
She was talking with me and my oldest daughter about how hard the process was when my oldest shared three words that really stuck with me.
Rejection is redirection.
That was it. Three words. Simple, and so very true!
That reframe has become one of the most powerful tools I use for how to overcome rejection.
It made me think about how many times a rejection ended up redirecting me to something even better than I could have imagined.
Being broken up with by someone I cared for, which shortly after led me to meeting my husband.
Being dismissed by a friend I thought I could confide in, and who I was always there for, led me to invest in friendships that are mutual rather than one-sided.
At the time, they did not feel like redirection. They felt like rejection, full stop. Looking back now, I can see clearly how those moments were quietly working in my favor, clearing space, nudging me in a new direction that I wouldn’t have chosen on my own.
For my daughter, the redirection showed up quickly. Shortly after that conversation, she landed a new job, and she’s a month in now, doing great! The rejection that stung wasn’t the end of her story. It was just the detour on the way to something that fit her better.
I think that’s true for most of us, even when it may take longer to see. We rarely get to witness the redirection while we’re standing in the rejection. It usually makes sense afterward, when we look back and realize we ended up exactly where we needed to be.
So how do you overcome rejection when you’re in the middle of it? Here’s what I find to be helpful:
-> Let go of needing to understand the rejection right away. Not every rejection makes sense in the moment. Sometimes understanding comes later, and that’s okay.
– > Nurture yourself. A rejection can leave you feeling drained. Getting extra rest, some fresh air, exercising or having your favorite meal can help you feel better while you find your footing.
-> Talk to someone you trust. Share how you’re feeling and let them hold onto that hope for you until you’re ready to hold it yourself.
There are also a few questions I like to sit with when I need to go deeper:
Where in your life did a “no” redirect you toward something better?
What door closed that you’re now genuinely grateful for?
Is there a rejection you’re carrying right now that might actually be pointing you somewhere new?
You don’t have to have all of the answers right now. Sometimes simply asking the question is enough to lighten the weight a rejection carries.
If you’re in a season where a “no,” big or small, has you feeling stuck, let’s work through that together and help you gain clarity. Schedule your free breakthrough coaching call with me today.