Self-Love for Rejection (with guided audio exercise included)
- Stefanie Robbins
- May 16
- 2 min read
Rejection can be deeply unsettling, whether it is big or small, real or perceived. Not only do we encounter emotional discomfort, being turned away touches on something primal and wired into our biology. Connection is as essential as food, water, and shelter, making rejection a wound that can feel almost physical.
In the face of rejection, real or perceived, we naturally seek to understand why, to make sense so we can avoid the difficult thoughts and feelings that come with it. Is it something I did or something about me? This thinking can lead to a spiral of self-doubt, people pleasing, and shame. That person or group is terrible, I wouldn't even want to be part of their group! This self-talk can lead to anger, acting out, or isolation. When we meet rejection it is understandable to want to react, to make the feelings go away, however we can. But, we have another option right here and now that exists within each of us - the capacity to give ourselves the acceptance and love we need and are worthy of receiving through the practice of Self-Love. Self-love can also be a ballast when (not if) rejection occurs - something to hold on to when we aren't sure what to do with uncomfortable feelings, thoughts or sensations.
Using your creative and vivid imagination to create a safe and accepting space, this guided exercise will invite you to explore your child-self experiencing rejection and how you can keep this little-you safe and accepted. Then, you will be prompted to consider a more recent example of rejection from your life and, using the same skills, apply this warm and loving approach to yourself as you are now.
We can meet these moments of rejection with kindness, love, warmth and understanding. I hope with this practice you will feel more assured that when the experience of rejection arises, you can more easily connect with your internal and supportive resource of Self-Love.
Through this guided exercise, you’ll have the opportunity to process and reframe your relationship with rejection in a way that fosters self-acceptance, resilience and self-love.
