Why you should embrace rejection

Embracing the Sting of Rejection Can Transform Your Life.

Rejection is a universal experience that can cut deep into our psyche, leaving us reeling from the perceived injustice or failure to meet expectations. In many instances, it feels like an attack on our very identity – a harsh reminder that we may not be good enough or desirable. However, what if this so-called 'rejection' was actually a stepping stone towards growth and empowerment?

Recent research suggests that rejection can activate similar areas of the brain as physical pain, releasing stress hormones such as cortisol. But, paradoxically, it's precisely this kind of emotional response – rather than trying to avoid or suppress it – that holds the key to unlocking true resilience and success.

According to social psychologist Naomi Eisenberger, "social pain" is analogous in its neurocognitive function to physical pain, alerting us when we've sustained injury to our social connections. This notion may seem counterintuitive at first, but bear with me. In an evolutionary context, rejection was once a matter of life and death – being cast out from a communal setting could have meant survival.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, and while our stakes may be lower, the same primal urge remains. We yearn for acceptance and belonging, which is why recoiling from rejection can do more harm than good. It can make us risk-averse and less spontaneous, narrowing our social world and limiting our opportunities.

So, what if we flipped this script? What if instead of shrinking away from rejection, we decided to ride it out? This may seem daunting at first, but embracing rejection can be a powerful tool for personal growth and transformation.

Take Jia Jiang's remarkable story as an example. In 2012, he accumulated 100 days of rejection by making outrageous requests to strangers, all while documenting his experiences. Rather than wallowing in anxiety or fear, Jiang chose to use these rejections as a catalyst for resilience-building. As he said, "it reminded me of the ancient Iron Fist technique in kung fu," where repeated exposure to pain can increase our resistance.

Jiang's journey shows that embracing rejection is not just about psychological resilience but also about cultivating a sense of agency and awareness. By exposing ourselves to new experiences and people, we open ourselves up to novel possibilities and opportunities. This can lead to an explosion of creativity, social skill, and delight in engaging with others.

Throughout history, rejection has played a crucial role in shaping artistic movements, from impressionism to punk rock. Even the Bauhaus group's groundbreaking influence might not have been achieved had they not faced some degree of rejection along the way.

So, what can we take away from this? That rejection is an inevitable part of life, and it's up to us how we choose to respond. By training ourselves to view rejection as a means of growth rather than a source of pain, we can transform our approach to challenges and setbacks.

As one American entrepreneur put it, "embracing rejection means embracing being thrown back." This phrase encapsulates the idea that rejection can be an opportunity for rebirth and renewal – a chance to reframe our perspective, challenge our assumptions, and emerge stronger on the other side.

omg u gotta believe in yerself even when nobody else does ! rejection is like that awkward uncle at the family reunion - it might be uncomfortable but it's also a reminder that ur family is bigger than just 1 person . seriously tho, think of all the iconic artists and innovators who got rejected a million times b4 they made it big like, jk im not saying u gotta be next big thing but embracing rejection is def key to growth & empowerment . instead of hiding away, use it as fuel 2 push urself harder & take risks . and hey, even rejections from others can lead to major breakthroughs - just think about all the wild ideas that come from people who are like "nah u cant do dat" lol

I dont think embracing rejection is all it's cracked up to be . Like, what if you're already pretty okay with yourself? What if you've got a solid support system and don't need some random stranger's approval to validate your existence? Rejection can still hurt no matter how "empowered" you are . And lets be real, sometimes rejection is just plain scary . It makes me way more anxious about meeting new people or putting myself out there . I think we should focus on building confidence from within instead of trying to make rejection a badge of honor .

Rejection might actually be good for us! The more I think about it, the more I realize that trying to avoid it or hide from it can make us even more stressed and anxious in the long run . Instead of letting rejection get us down, we should try to see it as a chance to learn and grow . It's like when you fall off your bike - at first, it hurts, but eventually, you get back on and ride again . The key is to not let the fear of getting knocked down stop us from trying in the first place .

I think its kinda wild how we associate rejection with bad vibes when in reality its like our brain is just trying to protect us from real harm . Like Naomi Eisenberger says social pain is literally the same area as physical pain , which makes sense if you think about it. But instead of fighting it we should be embracing it and seeing it as an opportunity to grow . I mean its not all sunshine and rainbows but sometimes thats exactly what we need . Take Jia Jiang's story for example, 100 days of rejection turned into a journey of self-discovery and empowerment . Thats the kind of mindset shift we should be focusing on instead of just trying to avoid rejection .

Embracing rejection might not sound like the most obvious move, but I think it's kinda liberating . Like, what if you're so scared of getting rejected that you never even try for something? You'll just end up stuck in a rut , never knowing what could've been. And yeah, it hurts when someone says no, but it's not the end of the world . In fact, some of the coolest things have come from being rejected - like, remember that one time someone told Steve Jobs his laptop was "a piece of junk"? Yeah, he went on to change the world. So, instead of getting all bent outta shape when you get rejected, try to see it as a chance to level up and learn something new .

emotional pain is real but we shouldnt let it define us u know? rejection can actually be a blessing in disguise like when u try out for a team or apply 2 a job and get rejected but thats not the end of ur journey, its just the beginning. u gotta learn 2 deal w/ disappointment & rise above it

Rejection is like a rude awakening - it stings, but maybe it's not as bad as we think . I mean, take Jia Jiang's story, he went out there and asked for 100 days of rejection, and instead of letting it bring him down, he used it to build resilience . It's like our brains are wired to respond to pain with stress hormones, but what if we could rewire that response to be growth instead of fear? Maybe embracing rejection is about being brave enough to take the risk, and in doing so, you might just discover new opportunities .

It's also interesting how rejection has shaped some pretty big movements throughout history - art, music, even entrepreneurship. It shows that sometimes what we think of as failure can actually be a stepping stone for something bigger . So, instead of trying to avoid rejection, maybe it's time to flip our script and view it as a chance to grow and learn .

rejection is like that one aunt at family gatherings who just won't stop talking - it's annoying, but sometimes you need her to grow your own opinion and confidence . jia jiang's story tho... dude was literally getting rejected left and right and still managed to turn it into a movement what i love about his approach is how he didn't let the rejections define him, but instead used them as fuel for growth kinda like when you're trying to perfect that one hard-to-reach shot on xbox and keep getting denied, but then finally nail it

omg, I totally feel like we need to shift our mindset when it comes to rejection ! It's not just about being resilient or strong, but also about embracing those moments where things don't go as planned . We're so used to beating ourselves up over rejections that we forget that they can actually be a catalyst for growth ! think about it, if Jia Jiang hadn't made those outrageous requests, he wouldn't have built his brand or gained such an incredible following . and let's not forget all the legendary artists and innovators who were rejected multiple times before making it big . so yeah, let's give rejection a second chance (and a cool new nickname ) #RejectionIsNotTheEnd #GrowthThroughChallenge #EmbracingTheSting

Embracing rejection is like saying "yes" to your growth ... it's wild to think about how much pain we can feel from being rejected, but what if that pain could actually be a signal for us to level up? I mean, just imagine all the amazing stuff Jia Jiang did after facing 100 days of rejection - he became way more confident and open to new experiences. And it's not just him, think about all the historical figures who got rejected at first but still managed to create something epic... like those impressionist artists or punk rockers . They all had to get knocked down before they could build something amazing back up. So yeah, I'm all for flipping that script and using rejection as a chance to grow ... anyone else with me on this?

I'm so done with everyone making a big deal about not wanting to get rejected. Like, hello, it's okay to say no or get turned down sometimes! It's actually pretty empowering to know that you can handle not getting what you want. I mean, who needs validation from others when you have your own self-worth? Not to mention, it's so overrated to think that rejection means the end of everything. I've seen people get rejected and then go on to achieve even more than before. It's all about perspective and learning to see rejection as a stepping stone, not a roadblock

rejection is still gonna hurt i dont think we should try to "embrace" it like its some kinda superpower newsflash: it hurts, and that's okay what if instead of trying to "ride it out", we just give ourselves permission to feel those emotions for a sec and then move on? can't we just say "screw it" when we get rejected and go find something else?

I totally get why people freak out when they get rejected , it's like getting punched in the gut . But honestly, if we could just chill and see it as a learning experience , we might be surprised by how empowering it can feel . Think about all the times you've been turned down for something you really wanted, but then went on to do even better things because of it . Like, I was rejected from my first internship, and ended up getting another one that paid way more . It's crazy how sometimes what seems like a setback at first can turn out to be a blessing in disguise .

I don’t usually comment but... I think this is really cool . Embracing rejection as a way to grow and become more resilient is such a powerful concept. It's like we're not just talking about bouncing back from mistakes or failures, but actually using them as fuel for our next move . It makes me think of all the times I've been rejected in my own life, whether it was in business or personal relationships ... and how sometimes those rejections were actually opportunities in disguise . Not that I'm saying it's easy or that everyone should just go out there and ask for 100 days of rejection , but I do think we need to start viewing rejection as a natural part of the process, rather than something to be feared or avoided .

Rejection stinks, but maybe not as much as we think? Like, what if it's actually a good thing? I mean, think about it, when was the last time you made something amazing after getting rejected? It's crazy how many famous people have been rejected like, multiple times before becoming successful. It's like our brains just don't want to believe that rejection is good for us . But honestly, if we can learn to see it as a chance to grow and improve, then maybe it's not the end of the world? Just my 2 cents

I mean think about it, all this talk about rejection being good for us... sounds like some kinda control thing . Like they wanna make us believe that if we just take a hit of rejection, we'll come out the other side stronger, more resilient . But what's really going on here? Is this just a way to get us to accept more and more of this BS life, with its ups and downs? It feels like they're trying to make us feel guilty about not wanting something that's bad for us, you know? Like we gotta be brave enough to take the sting...

I'm literally thinking about this article right now and I gotta say, it's like, so true! I've been in situations where I felt like giving up after getting rejected, but then I thought about it and realized that maybe, just maybe, it was an opportunity to learn and grow . It's like Naomi Eisenberger said, social pain is real and it can be a powerful motivator .

I love how Jia Jiang turned his rejection experiences into something positive , and I'm definitely gonna try to do the same from now on . Embracing rejection as a means of growth is all about perspective, you know? It's not about being afraid or discouraged, but about using those feelings to fuel your passions .

I mean, think about it, if some of our most iconic artists and movements started with rejection , why can't we? It's time for me to stop playing it safe and start taking risks . Who knows what amazing things could happen!

Embracing rejection is like, totally a thing now ! You gotta think of it as a way to level up your life instead of letting it bring you down . Like, we're so used to avoiding pain or discomfort that we forget that our brains are wired to respond to emotional pain in the same way they do physical pain . So instead of trying to suppress it, let's lean into it and use it as a chance to grow . I mean, think about all the amazing stuff that came out because people were rejected or didn't fit in - from art movements to startups . It's like, rejection is just a stepping stone to something better . We gotta flip our mindset and start seeing it as an opportunity for rebirth instead of a source of pain .

Embracing rejection is literally life-changing . I mean think about it if every time you ask someone out or pitch an idea they just say no, how would you even know what works? . We need to stop being so afraid of failure and start seeing it as a stepping stone for growth. Like Naomi Eisenberger said "social pain" is real, but we can learn to channel that energy into something positive .

I'm inspired by Jia Jiang's story . He took rejection from 100 people in one day and turned it into a lesson on resilience. I wish more of us could do the same . It's about being brave, taking risks, and opening ourselves up to new experiences. And who knows maybe that's where our next big idea comes from .

I'm starting a challenge for myself to ask 10 people a day if they want to collaborate on a project . Wish me luck!