Why Rejection Feels Like Losing a Balloon

Tanesha Moody
3 days ago
5 min read

Why Rejection Feels Like Losing a Balloon

Rejection isn’t just something that happens to us—it’s something we feel. Like an uninvited party crasher, it barges into our emotional lives, bringing an entourage of sadness, embarrassment, disappointment, and anger. While rejection looks different for everyone, the emotional rollercoaster it causes is a universal experience.

Sometimes, rejection is loud and obvious: the breakup text, the ghosted DM, or the friend group that mysteriously forgets to invite you to brunch (again). Other times, rejection sneaks in wearing a subtle disguise—a glance, a tone, or an unspoken “no” that still manages to hit hard.

If you’ve been following this series, you already know that rejection isn’t just about the “no” itself but also about how we internalize and interpret it. As I’ve learned through my own journey, how rejection feels is often the best way to recognize it. So, let’s dive into the emotional kaleidoscope of rejection and unpack what it brings to the party.

When I was a kid, I left a Fuddruckers restaurant clutching a bright red balloon. It was my prized possession—until it wasn’t. One gust of wind, one slip of my fingers, and it was gone, floating into the vast sky. My heart sank, and a wave of sadness I didn’t yet have words for washed over me.

That same feeling has reappeared countless times in the face of rejection. It’s that deep sense of loss—the job you didn’t get, the friend who grew distant, the relationship that didn’t work out. Sadness is the part of rejection that makes it feel like your heart is physically aching like a little piece of you has floated away, just like that balloon.

As an eternal optimist, I set my expectations sky-high. Why wouldn’t I? The world is full of rainbows, butterflies, and, occasionally, Oreo cupcakes. But when reality doesn’t measure up, disappointment shows up like an uninvited guest.

I remember the time I cannonballed into a hotel pool, only to surface and lock eyes with a stranger who casually rated my splash a lackluster “five” for his kids. First of all, I wasn’t even competing. Second, rude! But there I was, feeling disappointed in myself for not meeting a random stranger’s unsolicited expectations.

Disappointment often comes with rejection when we’ve hoped for one thing and gotten another—or nothing at all. And just like that poolside moment, it can leave us questioning ourselves, even when the rejection was completely unintentional.

Picture this: You’re at a dimly lit salsa and bachata social, minding your business and chatting with a friend. Then, in a moment of accidental chaos, you turn on every single light in the ballroom. The entire room stops dancing, their faces turned toward you, squinting under the glare like you’ve just summoned the sun.

That wave of embarrassment—the burning face, the frantic backpedaling to fix the mistake—feels eerily similar to the sting of rejection. Embarrassment often accompanies rejection when we feel exposed, judged, or out of place. And much like the light switch debacle, it can leave us wanting to slink into the shadows until everyone forgets what happened.

We’ve all heard stories of people reacting to rejection with anger—sometimes in extreme and harmful ways. While I’m not here to endorse that kind of reaction, I understand the emotion behind it.

For me, anger after rejection usually stems from hurt. It’s a defensive response, a way of protecting myself when I feel wounded. Anger can also signal that I’ve taken the rejection personally, blurring the lines between “they said no” and “I’m not good enough.” But here’s the thing: unchecked anger doesn’t heal the wound. It just creates new ones. When we sit with the anger and ask ourselves where it’s coming from, it can become a tool for understanding and growth.

Recognizing how rejection feels is the first step to navigating it. These emotions—sadness, disappointment, embarrassment, anger—are like signposts, pointing us toward what’s really going on beneath the surface. They’re not comfortable, but they’re necessary.

Rejection challenges us to sit with these feelings, to understand them, and, ultimately, to grow from them. But to do that, we have to separate the rejection from ourselves.

If there’s one takeaway from this series, it’s this: rejection is about the offer—not you. Whether it’s your presence, idea, or effort, rejection reflects timing, alignment, or preference—not your value as a person.

That stranger at the pool didn’t reject me; he rejected my cannonball. And that’s okay.

By separating ourselves from the offer, we can start to see rejection as feedback, not failure. It’s a moment, not a definition.

So, how do we navigate these feelings without letting them consume us? Here’s what’s helped me:

Name It: When rejection stings, identify the emotion. Is it sadness? Embarrassment? Anger? Naming it takes away some of its power.
Feel It: Give yourself permission to sit with the emotion. Cry over the balloon. Laugh at the light switch fiasco. Let it out.
Challenge It: Ask yourself, “Am I taking this too personally? Is this rejection really about me?”
Reframe It: Instead of seeing rejection as an ending, view it as a redirection—or even a blessing in disguise.
Separate It: Remember, rejection is about the offer, not you.

Rejection is messy and uncomfortable, but it’s also an inevitable part of life. By recognizing how it feels and learning to navigate those emotions, we can turn rejection into a tool for growth.

So, the next time rejection barges in with sadness, disappointment, embarrassment, or anger in tow, don’t let it define you. Feel it, process it, and move forward—because there’s always another cannonball to dive into, another light switch to navigate, and another chance to try again.

What does rejection feel like for you? Let’s talk about it in the comments—I promise not to rate your splash. 😊

https://www.taneshalmoody.com/coaching

<!-- LinkedInContent: 🎈 Why Rejection Feels Like Losing a Balloon 🎈

Rejection isn’t just a “no”—it’s an emotional rollercoaster. Whether it’s sadness over a lost opportunity, embarrassment from an awkward moment, or even anger at a perceived slight, rejection has a way of stirring up big feelings. 💡

In my latest blog, I share how rejection’s emotional sting—like losing a balloon—can teach us about ourselves and our growth:

📍 Name the emotion (because sadness feels different than anger).

🪞 Reflect on whether you’re taking it too personally.

🔄 Reframe the rejection as redirection.

💬 What does rejection feel like for you? Let’s talk about it in the comments—I promise not to rate your cannonball splash! 😊

Read the full blog below. 🔗

#RejectionIsGrowth #LiveFullOut #FullOutCoaching #Resilience #MindsetShift #PersonalGrowth -->