Speaking of Rejection: Spread the Word

Maybe it’s not you. Maybe it’s where you’ve been planted.

Photo by Dulcey Lima on Unsplash

We’ve all felt it – the sting of not being chosen, not being understood, not being welcomed in. Rejection has a way of burrowing deep, telling us lies about our worth and our belonging.

In our August treehouse gathering on Zoom, I read a passage from Soul Shift that speaks directly to that pain.

I’d just finished teaching about planting seeds of connection in new life seasons. Though some had heard the poem before, the words landed differently this time. Maybe it was a painful current life situation… or a past betrayal… or the growing issue of social isolation and division. Perhaps the words resonated because watching loved ones struggle to find their people hurts just as much – maybe even more – than experiencing it ourselves.

Whatever the reason, something shifted in the space we shared. The words acted like a release valve, and I could feel shame giving way to possibility.

Several participants reached out after the session, asking me to share the passage here so they could pass it along to people they love. Nothing could honor me more.

Here it is…

Speaking of Rejection

by Rachel Macy Stafford, Soul Shift

Just because you aren’t connecting with those around you,
Doesn’t mean your ability to relate is faulty or broken.

Just because local circles haven’t opened for you,
Doesn’t mean you are incapable of finding synchronicity somewhere else.

Just because nobody around you ‘gets’ you,
Doesn’t mean your inner fabric is too intricate for understanding.

Just because no one in your vicinity shares your interests or passions,
Doesn’t mean you are uninteresting, and your passions unworthy of pursuit.

Your place of belonging may not be within walking distance,
but believe it exists.

Your group of acceptance may not yet be formed,
but believe it exists.

Your community of peace may not be easy to find,
but believe it exists.

Rejection and isolation can take damaging tolls,
even leading you to believe there is something “wrong” with you.

But have you considered this?

Maybe it’s not you…

Maybe it’s where you’ve been planted.

Perhaps the soil, sunlight, and conditions in which you are trying to live, breathe, and flourish are what’s wrong for you.

Uprooting yourself from a debilitating environment, even briefly is significant.
Yes, it requires effort, courage, creativity, and patience,
but you are far too valuable to remain in a box in which you can’t thrive.

Maybe it’s not you…

Maybe it’s where you’ve been planted.

Your precious self is worthy of good soil.

If these words speak to you—or to someone you love—let them be a reminder: your worth is not measured by who accepts you, but by the life inside you that longs to be nurtured. Good soil exists. Safe circles exist. A place where you can breathe deeply and be fully yourself exists.

May you never confuse rejection with unworthiness. May you keep seeking the conditions where you can thrive.

I believe it’s out there.

I believe in you.

I believe in us.

My hand in yours,
Rachel

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🌳 An Easy Way to Make Positive Ripples in the World…

Each month, I host a restorative and enlightening live teaching in the Treehouse via Zoom. Together, we dive into real-life human experiences, exploring how we relate to ourselves and the people we love. My core belief? When we nurture harmony within, it naturally creates healing ripples outward into the world around us.

Here are the topics we’ve explored recently — all one-hour recordings (with guided practices + journal prompts) are available to watch at your convenience through a $5/month subscription:

🦋 May – What do we do when someone we care about wrongs us, rejects us, or hurts us, and we spiral? How do we stop looping in painful thoughts and self-doubt? And how do we come back to ourselves? In this session, I shared a book and a tool that have helped me navigate exactly this, and I guide you through how to use them.

☀️ June – Got a difficult decision to make? Your body may already know the answer. In this session, we explored how tuning into physical sensations — and creating tech-free, safe spaces — can deepen mindfulness and support intuitive choices. Many participants walked away with clarity on decisions with which they’d been wrestling.

🏖️ July – This session is a mini retreat to reset and finish 2025 thriving (rather than barely surviving). Through soothing visualization exercises, including a grounding inner-tree drawing, we uncovered our inner strengths and returned to our inner rootedness. One of the most touching moments: creating visual reminders for our December selves, inspired by a detail from my 22-year-old daughter’s apartment door. We closed with a leaf ritual that left everyone feeling grounded and renewed.

✏️ August – How does true connection grow? This uplifting session explored community building and the power of shared vulnerability. We looked at real-life stories, practical examples, and insights from two of the best books I’ve read on belonging. We also tried a mapping exercise to plant new connections—no matter your stage of life. If you have a child in a transitional stage, searching for their people, the August teaching is full of ideas to support them on that journey.

🩵 Thank you for your support in keeping our beloved treehouse — a sacred place for connection, reflection, and belonging — flourishing.

*Speaking of Rejection: Part I and 2 can be found on pages 62-65 of Soul Shift