This fear can have many underlying causes.
Find out which option is the best for you.
You may find the following strategies helpful for learning how to overcome a fear of rejection.
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Improve Your Self-Regulation Skills
Self-regulationrefers to your ability to identify and control your emotions and behaviors.
Face Your Fears
Avoidance copinginvolves managing unpleasant feelings by simply avoiding the things that trigger those emotions.
The problem with this approach is that it ultimately contributes to increased feelings of fear.
You’ll also gain greater confidence in your own abilities to succeed.
Entertaining clients, negotiating deals, selling products, and attracting investors are key components of many jobs.
Even something as simple as answering the telephone can be terrifying for people with a fear of rejection.
The tendency to keep to yourself could potentially prevent you from making lasting connections with others.
It could lead you to do things you’re not comfortable with just to remain part of the group.
If you are apeople-pleaser, you may take on too much, increasing your risk forburnout.
At the extreme, people-pleasing sometimes turns into enabling the bad behaviors of others.
Passivity
People with a fear of rejection often go out of their way to avoid confrontations.
The fear of rejection may stop you from reaching your full potential.
Hanging onto the status quo feels safe, even if you are not happy with your current situation.
The fear of rejection might drive you to engage in behaviors like passive-aggressiveness, passivity, and people-pleasing.
It can also undermine your authenticity and make it difficult to be yourself when you are around others.
Rejection
Ironically, the fear of rejection often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
It is well-known in pop psychology thatconfidenceenhances attractiveness.
Research shows that confidence is nearly as important as intelligence in determining our income level.
Manipulation
Some people prey on the insecurities of others.
Frustration
Most people are decent, honest, and forthright.
Many times, however, people who fear rejection experience these efforts as emotionally threatening.
This often leads friends and family towalk on eggshells, fearful of making your fears worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Past experiences with rejection can play a role in this fear.
Talking to people can be challenging if you have a fear of rejection.
The best way to deal with it is to practice talking to others regularly.
You might also avoid sharing your thoughts and opinions because you fear that others might disagree with you.
Fear of rejection might be related to mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.
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