Andrea Johnson | April 7, 2025

Your Fear of Rejection Is Costing You More Than You Think

“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.” – Vincent Van Gogh

When you lose a job or are not selected for an opportunity, you can’t help but feel rejected.

It can feel like a door has been closed in front of you. But what about the times you close the door yourself, pre-emptively rejecting yourself before someone else does?

You might be thinking: “I don’t reject myself!” but self-rejection occurs beneath the surface when you let self-doubt and fears of rejection deter you from pursuing opportunities that light you up.

The Invisible Roadblock: Self-Rejection

Avoiding rejection guarantees failure. It locks you into mediocrity, unfulfilling relationships, and a life that never feels like yours.

If you're tired of this cycle, two transformative practices will empower you to open doors regardless of any thoughts of doubt, uncertainty, or rejection.

Before we explore these practices, let’s look at the cost of allowing self-doubt and fears to control your life.

The True Cost of Holding Yourself Back

Succumbing to doubts and fears that arise when pursuing new opportunities and experiences leaves you with a laundry list of abandoned opportunities. Eventually, this leads to a subpar life experience filled with missed career and life opportunities, feelings of stagnation, and a host of escapist and numbing tendencies to self-soothe.

Is rejection unpleasant? Yes, but it’s not a death sentence. You’ve survived it before, and you’ll continue to survive when you choose to be undeterred by doubt and fear.

Two Ways to Build Your Confidence

Rejection isn’t inherently negative. You’ve simply been taught to fear it.

Rejection can be a gift—offering beneficial detours or insights to guide future ventures.

Practice and exposure are key tools that will empower you to step beyond your comfort zone and face possible rejection head-on.

1. Practice: Can you think of a skill you mastered without practice? Probably not. Every new skill takes time and repetition before mastery. The more you practice, the more progress you'll see—progress worth celebrating.
2. Exposure: Each time you choose to pursue opportunities and experiences that light you up despite feelings of doubt and fear, the more comfortable you’ll become. Over time, you’ll notice that these uncomfortable feelings have less power to deter you from exploring future ventures.

The 30-Day Challenge: What If You Choose Self-Belief?

Every day you wake up is another opportunity to try something new.

If you don’t risk rejection, you’ll never have a chance at a truly fulfilled life filled with growth and exciting opportunities. It only asks that you lean in, embrace possibilities, and trust yourself.

What if, for the next 30 days, you choose self-belief—no matter what?

What if you feel the self-doubt and still say, "I’m doing this anyway"?

Imagine the transformation!

Your Next Step

Download From Self-Doubt to Self-Belief: A Guided Reflection & Action Plan to break free from self-rejection and take the first step toward your next big opportunity.

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