The Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the Indian epic Mahabharata, provides timeless wisdom that can be applied to many aspects of life, including dealing with rejection. Here are some principles from the Bhagavad Gita that can help one overcome rejection:
1. Understanding Impermanence
Bhagavad Gita Reference: Chapter 2, Verse 14
"O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of
happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the
appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from
sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them
without being disturbed."
Application: Rejection, like any other emotional experience,
is temporary. It comes and goes. Understanding this impermanence helps us to
not be overly attached to the negative feelings that arise from rejection.
2. Performing Duty Without Attachment
Bhagavad Gita Reference: Chapter 2, Verse 47
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties,
but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself
to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to
inaction."
Application: Focus on your efforts and actions rather than
the outcomes. Rejection is often a result of factors beyond our control. By
concentrating on doing our best and fulfilling our duties, we can maintain
inner peace regardless of the result.
3. Equanimity in Success and Failure
Bhagavad Gita Reference: Chapter 2, Verse 38
"Treating alike pleasure and pain, gain and loss,
victory and defeat, engage yourself in your duty. By doing so, you will never
incur sin."
Application: Developing equanimity helps us to remain
balanced in both success and failure. By treating rejection and acceptance with
the same attitude, we can maintain our mental equilibrium.
4. Self-Realization and Inner Strength
Bhagavad Gita Reference: Chapter 6, Verse 5
"One must deliver oneself with the help of one's own
mind, and not degrade oneself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul,
and his enemy as well."
Application: Strengthening our inner self through
self-realization helps us to handle rejection more effectively. Understanding
our true nature and purpose can provide a strong foundation that is not easily
shaken by external circumstances.
5. Detachment from Results
Bhagavad Gita Reference: Chapter 18, Verse 66
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender
unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear."
Application: Surrendering to a higher power and letting go
of attachment to results can help us find peace. Trusting in a higher plan and
understanding that everything happens for a reason can alleviate the sting of
rejection.
6. Faith and Devotion
Bhagavad Gita Reference: Chapter 9, Verse 22
"But those who always worship Me with exclusive
devotion, meditating on My transcendental form—to them I carry what they lack
and preserve what they have."
Application: Having faith in a higher power or purpose can
provide comfort and strength in the face of rejection. Devotion and trust in
the divine can help us to remain resilient and hopeful.
By applying these teachings from the Bhagavad Gita, one can develop a resilient mindset and a balanced approach to handling rejection. These principles encourage a focus on inner growth, self-realization, and maintaining equanimity in all situations.