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Step 1
Provide a context. Let your friend know that others have been rejected and survived and that there are advantages to being free again. Share your own rejection stories.
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Step 2
Tell his that his value isn't dependendent on anyone else. He was a good guy when he met this woman, he's a good guy now. Let him know how much you appreciate his good points.
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Step 3
Listen, but don't indulge. Let him vent his frustrations and concerns, and ask questions about how he feels, rather than offering opinions. However, if the conversation becomes obsessive, if he's still discussing this weeks from now, show him that he's trapping himself in the past.
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Step 4
Ask him what his rejection taught him. If the two of you can uncover mistakes he made in the relationship, he may benefit with the next woman he meets.
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Step 5
Don't tell him that rejection is character building. No one wants to hear that cliche and it won't soothe him. Instead, put the relationship in context. If he was attractive enough to be with one person, he'll attract someone else when the time is right.
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Step 6
Refrain from setting him up with someone new. First, this person should take time off from relationships for a while. If he can't, he may be codependent, which is problem you can't solve. Second, it's not your job. Let him meet someone in the natural course of things. Invest your energy in accompanying him to the movies, museums, restaurants, anywhere that will show him that life goes on even if he's alone at the moment.
