What We Can Learn by Teaching Our Kids How to Combat Rejection & Boost Mind Power

The threat of rejection exists in almost every aspect of everyday life. Our children can face rejection academically, professionally, even romantically. The constant rejection can make some feel as though they live in a bubble of embarrassment and pain.

How can we possibly prepare our children for a world of rejection?

It’s All in How You Look at It

Rejection can’t be prevented. Where there is success, there is failure, and that can’t be changed. But your child’s attitude about it can. In a study about fortitude, it was found that no matter who you were, you could build what is referred to as “grit” in order to deal with rejection. What happens when your child has stronger mind power and can view rejection differently? Their chances of success skyrocket.

How to Build Mind Power

If you want to help your kid early in life and strengthen their grit to build mind power, there are seven things that the strong minded do that you can teach your child:

1. They acknowledge their discomfort.

It’s a common defense mechanism to pretend as though you didn’t want the thing you’re being rejected by. How many teenagers have spouted the phrase “I didn’t want to go to that stupid party anyway”?

It’s better, instead, to acknowledge that being rejected sucks. As you deal with it head-on, the sting becomes less and less, and future rejection won’t hurt as much.

2. They give themselves a reality check.

Let’s face it, a defeatist attitude helps no one, least of all yourself. Assuming that you’re automatically going to fail, and so there’s no point in even trying is not the way to succeed.

Instead, look at things realistically, plan for what you want to do, and move on.

3. They celebrate their courage.

To move forward in life, you have to try new things. This often comes with failure and rejection. When hit with such rejection, instead of taking it as a sign you shouldn’t try, let it instead be an example of you stepping out of your safe little box and really trying something new.

4. They refuse to allow failure to define them.

Those with grit are the ones not terribly concerned with what other people think of them. You know the cousin that has a career in the thing everyone said wouldn’t pay? But failure after failure, they’ve finally made it, and no one knows how, but they’re actually making a living?

Yeah. Be like that cousin.

5. They practice self-compassion.

Rejection sucks, and the sting of it hurts. Instead of adding to the voices of everyone telling you that you shouldn’t have tried in the first place, be nice to you and give yourself credit for trying.

6. They learn from rejection.

This is the big one. Learn from your mistakes. It’s so simple, but it’s the biggest part of why those with mind power succeed.

7. They move forward with confidence.

Instead of that defeatist attitude, know that no matter what happens, you’ll learn from it, and move on.

Keeping these in mind, we can help our children succeed, no matter what rejection may happen.

Tyler Jacobson is a father, husband, and writer, with experience as a content writer and outreach coordinator for HelpYourTeenNow. Tyler has offered honest advice and humor to struggling parents and teens. Tyler has researched and written on education problems, disorders, the world of social media, addiction, and pressing issues with raising a teen today.

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