Ugh rejection—we’ve all been there, done that, hope to never do it again, thank you very much.
Unfortunately, it’s bound to happen again, and it sucks. You start to wonder if it’s a “you” thing, and it can mess with your self-esteem in a big way. But if you have your heart set on meeting someone special on a dating app, you’ve gotta get past it.
It’s not easy—it’s the opposite! Anyone who tells you that rejection doesn’t hurt is either lying or completely dead inside. But do you want to know a little secret? Rejection isn’t an impassable roadblock—you can find your way around it. Yes, they ding your ego, but they are only temporary setbacks. What’s more, they are also opportunities if you take a different approach instead of choosing to wallow in self-pity. Allow us to explain how to turn rejection into a learning experience when it comes to having better success on dating apps.
Embrace the Hurt—It’s Only Human
First things first, let’s get one thing straight—it’s normal and totally okay to feel bummed out. You’re human, and rejection hits you right in the feels. Give yourself some time to be disappointed, but don’t plant a flag in Wallowville. Stop by, sure, but don’t stay too long.
The Silver Lining in Every “No”
It might not feel like it at the time, but every “no” is nudging you that much closer to a “yes” with a romantic partner you click with. It’s basically a process of elimination that will point you toward more compatible matches. Try to look at it like you are fine-tuning your romance radar for what works and what doesn’t.
Reflect But Don’t Dwell
You can learn a lot from a little reflection on the interaction. Was there a specific moment when things went south? Did you totally ignore a red flag? Or maybe it was just a case of the wrong place wrong time—timing is everything. Use any insights you glean from the interactions to maybe refine or adapt your approach, but don’t overanalyze it—you aren’t Sigmund Freud! The goal here is to learn something, not beat yourself up.
Asking for Feedback: The Brave Souls
If you’re feeling super brave, you could ask the person who rejected you for some feedback. Sounds nuts, right? It is a little out there, but if you have the backbone to do it, and it’s done in a respectful way, it can give you an “aha” moment or just some helpful awareness. But don’t read too much into it—this person’s feedback is not an absolute truth—it’s only their perspective to think about.
It’s Not You, It’s…Well, It Could Be a Lot of Things
Listen, there are so many factors at play when it comes to why a match didn’t work out, and to be honest, most of the time, they have nothing to do with you. We aren’t just giving you lip service—timing, personal issues, or even just a bad day plays a big part in someone’s response or lack of one. Try not to take it as a personal indictment or a character assassination.
Variety is a Good Tactic
Never put all of your eggs in one basket! Branch out when it comes to your dating app matches and chats to lessen the pressure on just one interaction. This way, you’ll keep it varied and more fun while softening the blow of a single rejection.
Mindset Over Matter
If you get cracking on dating apps with a mindset based on new experiences and curiosity rather than a laser focus on finding your soulmate immediately, you’ll be much more successful. A simple shift in your perspective can make the entire experience more enjoyable and way less stressful!
The Block Button: Use It
You already know that not every match is gonna be a winner—in fact, some might be total losers. So, if you stumble upon one in the latter category or encounter negativity or toxicity, please don’t be afraid to use the block button. Your emotional well-being is way more important than any match.
The World is Bigger Than Your Screen
The world of dating is so much bigger than that little smartphone screen! Don’t let it consume you and be active in your real life—do your favorite activities and hobbies, spend time with your friends, and go after your interests. A full life is attractive, and you never know where you might meet someone interesting outside of a dating app!
It’s Not a Reflection of Your Worth
The most important thing to remember is that rejection doesn’t define your value as a person. Repeat after us: Just because someone didn’t feel a romantic connection does not mean you’re not worthy of love! Compatibility is complicated, and attraction is subjective. What doesn’t click for one person might be exactly what someone else is looking for.
Learning from Each Encounter
Every person we meet and every interaction we have is a learning opportunity. Did you find out you have a new deal-breaker? Did you discover more about what you really want in a romantic partner? Or maybe you learned something about your communication style? Each rejection can teach you something worthwhile about yourself and what you want in a relationship.
Resilience Road
Building up resilience is like muscle training; the more you work at it, the stronger you get. Every rejection is an opportunity to flex your resilience muscles, which will help you bounce back faster and hopefully with a bit more confidence each time. And resilience doesn’t mean being unaffected by rejection; it just means you are learning how to cope with it in a healthy way!
Broaden Your Horizons
While it’s important to reflect on rejection, it’s equally important not to dwell on it too much. Use it as a prompt to broaden your horizons. Try new hobbies, meet new people, and explore new places. These experiences can boost your confidence, give you new things to talk about, and, most importantly, help you meet someone who shares your interests.
Self-Care City
We are big advocates of practicing self-care during good times, so after facing rejection, our prescription is to double up on it! Spend time doing the things you love, whether it’s having a girl or guy’s weekend, a spa day complete with a deep tissue massage to get out all of those bad kinks, exercising, or engaging in a binge fest of your comfort movies or TV shows. Self-care also means being kind to yourself, so use those kid gloves and show yourself compassion and understanding—the same as you would to a friend going through the same thing.
Try To Keep Your Heart in the Game
It’s super easy to throw in the towel and give up on dating for a period of time—which is okay if that’s what you need to do! But don’t do it forever; try to keep your heart in the game of love. It’s tempting to erect high walls no one can scale after rejection to protect yourself from potential future hurt. But closing yourself off also means shutting out all potential connections, so after you mend, ease your way back and be open to looking for love again. After all, love tends to find us when we aren’t searching for it, and if you aren’t open to it, the “one” might pass you by.
Takeaways
Rejection is a part of life, and not just when it pertains to dating—it’s an integral part of being a human being. With every rejection, no matter how hurtful, you are going to get over it. Think of it this way: if a match ghosts you or doesn’t return your feelings, now you know, and you haven’t wasted any more time on that person. They weren’t the one for you!
This means you can go forward to finding the right match. These experiences sharpen your sense of what you really want in a romantic partner, improve your approach to dating, and, ultimately, make you a stronger, more self-aware person. So the next time you are dealing with rejection, take a deep cleansing breath, think about what went down, and then get back out there. The right match is waiting, and we promise you will get closer with every swipe!
