About this episode

The episode discusses the impact of rejection in dating, especially for individuals with disabilities, emphasizing that a single 'no' does not define one's worth.

  Getting back into dating after time away — especially when navigating life with a disability — takes genuine courage. You made yourself vulnerable, put yourself out there, and someone said no. That moment can feel enormous, like a verdict on your worth or your lovability. But here's the truth: one person declining a coffee date or not even replying is simply one data point. It is not a pattern, not a prediction, and absolutely not a reflection of your value as a person or a partner. It's Rarely About You Think about all the reasons someone might decline that have nothing to do with you — healing from a breakup, overwhelmed at work, a family situation, or simply not in a headspace for dating. Different life timelines, communication styles, or geography can all make someone unavailable, and none of that is a commentary on who you are. Rejection is almost always far more about the other person's circumstances than your worth. The Story You Tell Yourself Resilience is built exactly here — in the moment after a "no," when you decide what story you tell yourself. Learning to ask "What's actually true here?" rather than "What does this mean about me?" is a skill that gets…

People in this episode

Host: Kathy O'Connell

Topics covered

• dating
• rejection
• self-worth
• disability
• resilience
• vulnerability

Keywords

• dating
• rejection
• self-esteem
• disability
• vulnerability
• resilience
• self-reflection

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