When someone makes you an offer, you have the opportunity to accept or reject the offer. Similarly, if you propose products, services or something about you to other people, then they could embrace or reject you. If you learn to see rejection as a process of learning how to become more effective or how to become truer to yourself, then you'll be less likely to feel devastated in the case that events don't unfold your way. Its a path to self-acceptance.
Reflect on an experience when you feel rejected. Your attention may be drawn to things you didn't know about yourself or other people. How do you benefit? What can you gain? You may discover a hidden agenda, evidence of untruths, an interplay of thoughts and feelings within yourself, and about the other person who has rejected you. Getting 'brushed-off' is an invitation to grow and love yourself more just as you are right now. Do you realize that?
Consider Colonel Sanders, the brains behind Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). Whether or not you like or eat the food from this restaurant is beside the point. Sanders shouldered over 2000 rejections before he came upon a receptive restaurant for his recipe ideas. It took a lot of determination and thickening of his own skin before he met people willing to buy and market his special recipe. The rest is history. Yet, KFC success didn't happen overnight.
Take notice of how you give and respond to rejection. Do you shrug off rejection easily and move on or, would you benefit from taking a crash course on grace and maturity? Are you tolerant, loving and accepting of others, or are you apt to humiliate them and wound their pride? Whatever approach you take reveals to what degree you love and accept true self.
Let's reflect. So, you didn't get offered the promotion or maybe you were dumped by your partner for someone else. Neither situation is particularly appealing on the surface, but look a bit deeper. Rather than permit yourself to feel bad about what you didn't get, or view yourself as less than worthy, you can see every situation as doing you a favor. Look at your new freedom! New opportunities are arising; in personal growth, in other jobs, and more fulfilling relationships. Everything is a stepping stone to something.
When all is said and done, you benefit from observing your responses to everything that unfolds in your life. As you evolve to understand why you feel rejected, you come to see a limited perspective can expand. If you tell yourself you're less than you are, then you reinforce false beliefs that do not serve you. Everything is a teacher if you see it.
In the end, you can breathe a sigh of relief if you are brushed off. Step back and see what this allows to arise in your life. If you didn't have doubt or expectations, then feeling frustrated, demoralized or disappointed wouldn't arise and capture your attention. Situations only hurt if you allow attachment. Teach yourself suffering is a state of mind. Satiate the hunger that does not really exist. Self-improvement is unnecessary as you love yourself as you are.