Rejection Issues Revised — Part I
Instead of re-blogging a short series from four years ago, I’m revising it—because this issue is too important to me, and others. I also have more healing and understanding than I did four years ago.
How do you take criticism? Does it feel like a stab wound or a cut? @donnalhsmith @a3writers #amwriting #rejectionissues #rejectionsymptoms #rejectionhope TWEETABLE
Know this: healing is available. I’ll start with myself.
My symptoms were: anger, easily wounded, and fear. Today, I’ll look at anger.
Anger — I’ve always had a temper, uncontrollable and nasty. I’ve tamed a lot now, and I can’t blame all of it on my red hair. I lose my temper a lot when I feel like things will never change. This would be my response to rejection/criticism.
Now, you may also know that I am adopted and that two years ago I finally sought out my biological relatives.
Being adopted is a feeding ground for rejection—yet not everyone who is adopted feels rejected. It may just be my personality.
I’ve also heard from my sister, that bad tempers run in the family.
So—it looks like I had two strikes against me from the get-go.
via Flickr
How This Played Out With Me
Elementary school: Neighborhood children teased me about my red hair. I grew up in Kansas. In my grade school, most of the time, I was the only one with red hair. “Rusty Tin Can!” was the first nickname I had in the neighborhood. I was probably five years old, and we had just moved onto the block. Within two to three blocks, at least six of us were the same age, with a few older children by a year or two.
Truthfully, it was the older siblings that started the name-calling. They were a bit younger than my brother but were friends with him.
All I ever wanted was for people to like me. Just like me. That’s all. Don’t ridicule me for my last name, my hair color, or the fact that I’m shy. Accept me and be my friend.
This is the cry of those with rejection issues. Each time we’re rejected (perceived or real) it cuts deeply, like a scalpel cut, (not a paper cut) and takes a long time to heal. But there IS hope. @donnalhsmith @a3writers #amwriting #rejectionissues #rejectionsymptoms #rejectionhope TWEETABLE
Have rejection issues affected you? Leave a comment and let me know
Donna L.H. Smith 