If a fear of rejection, crippling social anxiety and a constant need to please everyone around you dictate the opportunities you do and don’t take in life, you might find the latest trend on Tik Tok useful.
Many people find that the fear of shame, embarrassment, or rejection from others is enough to discourage them from attempting anything new. It's the reason they never deviate from their schedule, interact with unfamiliar individuals and situations, or reach their full potential.
Creators on TikTok have recently brought back to life a time-tested method for removing our fear of rejection. They have taken to the platform to discuss how and why "rejection therapy" has improved their own lives.
The self-imposed therapy, which many are undergoing for a certain number of days as a challenge, inevitably forces people to purposely seek out rejection in a largely controlled setting. In other words, people are bravely putting themselves in potentially awkward or embarrassing situations to destigmatize the possibility of being told ‘No’.
As many users explain, the worst thing that can happen is that they’ll be left feeling embarrassed, but of course that's expected, yet they're still slightly more acquainted with rejection as a whole, making it a less daunting prospect in the future. As some users have discovered, simply opening themselves up for opportunities might also lead to hearing ‘yes’. One TikTok creator recalls applying for Harvard University ‘as a joke’, only to be waitlisted for the prestigious Ivy League college.
Of course, rejection therapy is not just designed to destigmatize the word ‘no’, but also to get people comfortable with experiencing momentary embarrassment, awkwardness and judgement from others.