Rejection is a painful, yet unavoidable part of living the single life and of dating. It is easy to take rejection personally, wondering what could have been done differently to hold the rejecter's attention. Often times however, the problem lies with one's date rather than oneself. This person could be going through a some personal issues they don't feel comfortable sharing. It is critical not to take things personally if your date doesn't contact you again, just move on with your life.

Getting rejected by a possible romantic interest often happens to people more than once, even to supermodels and celebrities. So, in a way, rejection is just a part of life. It is very difficult to recover, but it may make coping easier to remember you are certainly not alone in this.

Dr. Shoshanna of the dating site www.adamanddrew.com/rejection.cfm recommends dumpees to not blame the demise of the relationship on themselves. She advises not to feel there is something wrong with you, but to realize that the dating process is a matter of 'selection'--of getting acquainted with other people and then finding out if you match or are suited for each other. Many times incompatibility simply means there is a difference in goals, interests, backgrounds or basic relationship patterns.

Try to consider every date to be a success regardless of its outcome. Think of it as target practice--each miss could bring you a step closer to making your ideal match. To avoid becoming depressed about unsuccessful dates, be aware ahead of time that not every date is going to be successful, and that many are going to be absolutely awful!

It is normal to feel angry when rejected and your negative feelings are something you need to be aware of. Revenge, though appealing, is not a good idea. Instead, get out and talk to friends and family members. It's almost impossible not to dwell on rejection, but do try to look beyond it. Even though it's always easier to remember the bad than the good, try to think of rejection as a learning experience.