Rejection sucks. And although it hurts like hell, remember that there is something good in rejection: knowing that you had the courage to put yourself out there – not many people do!

The possibility of rejection awaits around every corner – doesn’t matter if it’s at work, school, or in a relationship. At some point in our lives, we all get blindsided by it, so the best thing to do is not to try to avoid rejection, but instead, work on how we deal with rejection. This takes practice. It’s not going to be easy, and it’s not a quick fix to getting rid of the pain. But with work, the sting of rejection will fade, and most importantly, you will grow stronger.

So, here are few things that you can do to deal with rejection in a positive and productive way:

One: try not to take things too personally. It’s easy feel like we are the sole reason why we got rejected in the first place. Right now, your brain is probably telling you exactly why you are the worst person in the world. But it is important focus on reasons that explain why you were rejected, that don’t have anything do to you.

So, say you got fired and feel like you weren’t good at the job. Well, maybe your employer is struggling to make money, because the economy is in tight spot. Or maybe you weren’t the best fit for that company’s culture, but you’ll be brilliant elsewhere. Once you have found a reason that has nothing to do with you, remind of yourself it as much as you can. Often rejection is not a reflection of you, but rather the person doing the rejecting. Don’t blame yourself.

Two: Once you get into the habit of reminding yourself that not everything is about you when it comes to rejection, you need to come to terms with the emotions you’re feeling. You’re going to feel hurt and stressed, but the best thing you can do is sit with the feeling, get on with your day, and remind yourself that these feelings are only temporary. Don’t try and suppress your emotions. This has been shown to make the emotions affect you even more, and it may take longer for you to adjust or recover. Try to sit with the feeling, do something you enjoy, and not get too wrapped in your thoughts.

Remember, that you are going to be rejected time and time again. It happens to everyone. Being someone who can overcome rejection says more about you, than being someone who was rejected in the first place. Be patient with yourself. Things will get better.

We have provided some resources below to help you on your journey.