Does the thought of being rejected make you want to quit dating altogether? In this episode of Love at Any Age, dating coach Laurie Gerber helps women over 50 handle rejection—both receiving it and giving it—without losing hope, dignity, or self-worth. If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t handle one more no,” this conversation is your emotional Band-Aid.

Laurie breaks down why rejection is an unavoidable part of finding healthy, lasting love and compares dating to running a marathon: you need preparation, pacing, and a little protection from chafing. You’ll learn why ghosting happens (and what it really means), how to keep a pipeline of conversations so one person’s disappearance doesn’t knock you out, and how to adopt the shopper mindset so you stop treating every no as a verdict on your value. She also shares a powerful client story about Kim, who went from being terrified of ghosting to meeting her partner once she stopped taking every rejection personally.

Then Laurie turns to the other side of the equation—how to say “no thank you” without guilt, overthinking, or putting yourself at risk. You’ll get her exact rejection scripts, the “grace and wisdom sandwich,” and practical safety tips: when to meet in public, why to stay in the app, why not to drink on early dates, and why staying “friends” with romantic non-matches usually backfires. By the end, you’ll have clear homework to open your pipeline, write your own gentle rejection text, and update your 3H chart so you can keep dating with your head, heart, and hoo-ha fully on your side.

You’ll learn: - Why rejection and “failure” are baked into the path to healthy, lasting love - How to keep a dating pipeline so one ghost or no doesn’t knock you out emotionally - Why having multiple early conversations actually makes you kinder and less reactive - How to use the “shopper mindset” so you evaluate fit instead of your worth - Why your one wants you—and what it means when someone disappears or pulls away - How to protect your mood of self-worth so you don’t spiral into self-criticism - A real-life story of a woman who moved through ghosting fear and found her partner - How to respond with grace when someone rejects you (and why it’s good karma) - Laurie’s exact scripts for saying “no thank you” kindly and clearly - Safety and clarity tips for early dates: public places, exits, staying in-app, and not drinking - Why staying friends with romantic non-matches usually hurts more than it helps - Homework to open your pipeline, craft your rejection script, and revisit your 3H chart

Timestamps 0:00 to 2:04 – Intro: fear of rejection and why this episode matters 2:04 to 5:23 – Rejection as part of success: Churchill quote, marathon mindset, and prep work 5:23 to 8:34 – Tip #1: Always have a pipeline (dating is a numbers game and ghosting happens) 8:34 to 12:07 – Tip #2: The shopper mindset and “your one wants you” 12:07 to 15:04 – Mood of self-worth, self-criticism traps, and Kim’s story about ghosting 15:04 to 18:24 – Being accepting and kind when someone rejects you (karma, allies, and connection) 18:24 to 22:07 – How to give rejection kindly: early elimination, 3H criteria, and the grace-and-wisdom sandwich 22:07 to 26:32 – Reducing awkwardness: spark vs no spark, public dates, exit plans, and why not to drink 26:32 to 30:24 – Safety and boundaries: staying in the app, blocking, and why not to “stay friends” with romantic non-matches 30:24 to 33:14 – Homework: open your pipeline, write your no-thank-you script, and revisit your 3H chart 33:14 to 36:18 – YouTube community love, next week’s self-love & body image series, and webinar invitation

Links & Resources 📺 Watch Past Episodes: https://lauriegerber.com/love-at-any-age 💕 Free Training: 3 Secrets to Finding and Maintaining Healthy Love Without Repeated Disappointments Watch it here: https://lauriegerber.com/webinar 📘 Learn more about the 3H Method and the 3-Date Strategy inside the free webinar.

Follow Laurie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauriegerber_coach/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriegerberdatingcoach YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lauriegerbercoach LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriegerber Podbean: https://lauriegerbercoach.podbean.com/

Enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate, and share it with a friend. Help more women over 50 learn how to handle rejection, honor their 3H chart, and keep believing that love does not come with an expiration date.