Rejection can feel deeply personal — whether it’s not getting the job, not hearing back, being left out, or feeling unwanted in relationships. In this episode, Andrew and Cat unpack why rejection hurts so much, what’s actually happening in your brain when it happens, and how to move through it without letting it define your self-worth.

This conversation is for anyone who tends to replay rejection over and over, spiral into self-blame, or wonder what’s “wrong” with them after hearing no.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. Why rejection activates the brain’s pain centers
2. How rejection threatens belonging, not your value
3. The difference between what happened and the story you tell yourself
4. Why rejection often feels like an identity attack
5. How timing, fit, and context matter more than personal failure
6. Why being rejected doesn’t mean you were evaluated fairly
7. How to stop internalizing rejection and move forward with confidence

Helpful mindset shifts:

1. Rejection is an event, not a verdict
2. Not being chosen doesn’t mean you’re unworthy
3. You don’t need universal approval to belong
4. Rejection often protects you from misalignment
5. One “no” does not define your future

Practical ways to handle rejection:

1. Let yourself feel disappointed without shaming yourself
2. Name the emotion instead of becoming it
3. Separate facts from assumptions
4. Reconnect with moments where you have been chosen
5. Keep your identity bigger than one outcome

A reminder we hope you take with you:

You are not your last rejection. You are allowed to grieve it — and you are allowed to move on without carrying it as proof of anything about you.

Glimmers:

Andrew shares a moment of calm and presence before a busy season, while Cat reflects on the joy of a slow, grounding day spent resetting her space and energy.