Feeling excluded is a painful experience. Whether it's being picked last for a team, feeling left out of social plans, or being excluded from certain situations, it can be hard to shake the feeling of not belonging.
The truth is, we all have moments where we feel left out or like we don't fit in. But it's important to remember that these feelings are temporary and that we have the power to change our perspective and find ways to include ourselves.
One way to do this is to focus on building our own sense of self-worth and confidence. When we feel good about ourselves, we are less likely to be affected by feelings of exclusion. We can also actively seek out new opportunities and make new connections, which can help us to find new groups of people where we feel more included.
Another way to cope with feelings of exclusion is to reach out to friends and family for support. Talking to someone we trust about how we're feeling can help us to process our emotions and find ways to move forward.
It's also important to remember that exclusion is not always intentional. Sometimes, people may not realize that they are excluding us, or they may not have the means to include us in a certain situation. In these cases, it can be helpful to have an open and honest conversation with the person or group in question to try to understand their perspective and find a solution that works for everyone.
Feeling excluded can be tough, but with time and effort, we can learn to cope with these feelings and find ways to include ourselves in the things that matter to us.
If you need to talk to someone, and the people you normally talk with just aren’t able to support you in this, you can talk to a HOLD Listener, trained, confidential, compassionate.