Sunday Journal Prompt

“Writing co-ops very different areas of your brain into the task, so it’s a much more meaningful and deeper exercise when you write.”

 

 - Dr. Guy Winch, author of Emotional First Aid
 

With rejection, our self-esteem gets damaged. While the rejection causes 10-20% of the hit, according to psychologist Guy Winch, our own negative internal voice prolongs the pain. For example, someone who is romantically rejected may have a host of negative thoughts: I'm too this, too that, not enough this, not enough that. To cope with rejection, Winch says we need to remind ourselves what we do bring to the world. He advises us to make a list of our meaningful, important qualities—such as being funny, emotionally available, loyal or great with in-laws. He says to choose one and write a paragraph or two about why it’s important and how we manifest it.

Clients often tell him they did this exercise in their heads, but Winch says “it doesn’t work that way.” He compares it to someone who is hungry who opens the refrigerator and imagines eating the food in it. Afterwards, that person is still going to be hungry. “You actually have to write it down,” he said in a recent The One You Feed podcast episode. “The writing coops very different areas of your brain into the task, so it’s a much more meaningful and deeper exercise when you write.” He says focusing on all the things we have to offer helps us cope with rejection.

 

What rejection are you coping with? Write two paragraphs about what gifts you bring to the world.