Day 71 of 100 Days of hope
Rising Through Rejection: A Holiday Guide for Midlife Moms Who Want to Stay Grounded, Connected, and Whole
With the holidays coming up, midlife moms everywhere are bracing for the beautiful chaos — the gatherings, the noise, the expectations, the personalities. And in the middle of all of it, one feeling tends to bubble up more often than we’d like to admit:
Rejection.
It can happen quietly — a child pulling away, a comment that stings, a family member dismissing something you shared, a friend forgetting to include you.
Or it can show up loud and sudden — a disagreement, an eye-roll, a cold shoulder, an unspoken judgment.
No matter how it arrives, rejection hits deep. And for moms in midlife — women who have spent years giving, supporting, building, loving — it can feel especially tender. Almost like a tiny crack forming in a heart that has worked so hard to hold so much.
But here’s what I want you to know today:
Rejection is not the end of the story.
In fact… it might be one of your greatest teachers.
Why Rejection Feels So Big (Especially Now)
As midlife moms, we’re navigating shifting identities:
Kids becoming adults
Friendships changing
Family dynamics evolving
Hormones shifting
Expectations stretching
Boundaries needing more clarity than ever
So when someone reacts in a way that feels like a “no,” it hits the part of us that wonders:
Am I still needed?
Am I still valued?
Do I still matter?
And the truth is — you do.
More than you realize.
But rejection offers a sacred nudge to stop seeking your worth “out there” and reconnect with what’s really true.
The Two Sources That Help You Rise
There are two places I go when rejection shows up:
1. The Savior and His Healing Power
There is something profoundly grounding about turning inward and upward when the world feels unsteady.
His presence softens the sting, steadies the breath, and reminds you that you are fully known, fully loved, and fully seen — without earning it.
2. Your Essence — the Part of You That Cannot Be Dimmed
This part of you is eternal.
Unchanging.
Unshakeable.
Stalwart and true.
Your essence is not influenced by someone else’s reaction, mood, or misunderstanding.
It can be covered temporarily… but it can never be taken from you.
And when rejection comes, it simply invites you back to that place.
What If Rejection Is a Redirect?
What if rejection isn’t a verdict but a recalibration?
What if it’s guiding you toward:
stronger boundaries
deeper self-compassion
truer alignment
more authentic connection
and a relationship with God that anchors everything?
What if rejection is simply saying:
“Come home to yourself again.”
Questions to Ask Yourself (and God) When Rejection Shows Up
These questions are grounding, clarifying, and deeply healing:
What is this moment trying to teach me?
How can I expand and grow right now, even if it’s hard?
What beliefs can I reframe or release that aren’t serving me?
How can I love myself more in this moment?
Even one of these questions can shift your entire experience.
The Midlife Mom Truth
You are not required to dim your light to keep the peace.
You are not required to shrink because someone else is uncomfortable.
You are not required to abandon yourself to feel accepted.
You are allowed to show up — fully, compassionately, honestly.
Rejection happens to all of us.
But the real power comes in what you choose afterwards.
Do you collapse?
Or do you shake it off, lift your chin, and step forward knowing exactly who you are and Whose you are?
That is the path of a strong, wise, grounded midlife mom.
And that path is always open to you.
If you want to hear a little more, here’s a video that goes deeper.
With love, compassion, and belief in you,
Julie Burningham
The Hope Coach