“Don’t get too comfortable. You are only walking home.” — Rumi

“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” — Michael Jordan

Over the last couple of years, I’ve taken some of the biggest risks of my life: starting my own business, letting go of people who drained my energy, sharing my story openly, embracing my athleticism again, getting published, and learning to become my own best friend. Each of these choices carried the possibility of rejection—failure, judgment, or simply not working out.

Yet instead of holding me back, those risks became the very fuel for my growth. My confidence has soared, and I’ve learned something profound: rejection is protection.

 A Spiritual Lens on Rejection

“Try to accept the changing seasons of your heart, even if they seem harsh.” — Rumi

From a spiritual perspective, rejection is not punishment—it’s guidance.

• Divine redirection: What feels like a closed door may be the universe steering us toward a path that better serves our growth.

• Soul expansion: Every “no” invites us to deepen resilience, humility, and trust in something greater than ourselves.

• Faith over fear: When we trust that rejection is part of a bigger plan, we stop seeing it as failure and start seeing it as alignment.

 Why We Stay Stuck

“Don’t get lost in your pain, know that one day your pain will become your cure.” — Rumi

Most people remain unhappy, bitter, or stagnant because they don’t want to risk being told “no.” They avoid the possibility of rejection, and in doing so, they avoid the possibility of growth. We create stories in our heads about how things will end before we even begin—and those imagined endings keep us from trying.

But those stories are fiction. They’re fear disguised as foresight. And when we let them dictate our choices, we stay stuck—safe, but stagnant.

 Lessons from Jia Jiang (Rejection Proof)

“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” — Rumi

Jia Jiang became famous for his “100 Days of Rejection” experiment, where he deliberately sought rejection every day to desensitize himself to fear. Some of his bold requests included:

• Asking a stranger for $100.

• Requesting a “burger refill” at a fast-food restaurant.

• Asking Krispy Kreme to make doughnuts in the shape of Olympic rings (they said yes!).

• Knocking on a stranger’s door to plant a flower in their yard.

• Asking a professor if he could teach a college class (and he did!).

Through these experiences, Jia discovered:

• The fear is worse than the rejection itself.

• Rejection therapy works—the more you face rejection, the less power it has.

• Rejection is feedback, not a verdict.

• Boldness creates unexpected opportunities.

 Lessons from James Altucher (Choose Yourself)

“Don’t get too comfortable. You are only walking home.” — Rumi

James Altucher, entrepreneur and author, argues that fear of rejection is the biggest barrier to living authentically. His wisdom includes:

• Don’t outsource validation: Waiting for others’ approval keeps us stuck; choosing yourself means acting without permission.

• Rejection is inevitable—and necessary: Without rejection, there is no frontier, no passion, no magic.

• Expand in all directions: Success comes from continually pushing boundaries—creatively, financially, spiritually, and physically.

• Detach from others’ opinions: Rejection says more about them than about you—their preferences, limitations, or timing—not about your value.

Altucher reminds us that choosing yourself means embracing rejection as part of the journey.

 How to Move Forward

“Try to accept the changing seasons of your heart, even if they seem harsh.” — Rumi

• Catch the story: Notice when you’re writing a negative ending in your head.

• Rewrite it spiritually: Imagine rejection as divine redirection, not disaster.

• Take small risks: Practice courage daily to build resilience.

• Celebrate effort: Success is showing up, not just the outcome.

• Remember this truth: Rejection often says more about the other person—their needs, fears, or circumstances—than it does about you.

 Closing Thought

“Don’t get lost in your pain, know that one day your pain will become your cure.” — Rumi

Risks—even with the possibility of rejection—are what help us evolve. Rejection is not the enemy; it’s the proof that you dared to try. Spiritually, it’s protection and redirection, guiding you toward the path meant for you.

As Jia Jiang shows, the fear is worse than the rejection itself. As James Altucher reminds us, choosing yourself means embracing rejection as part of the journey.

So the next time your mind starts writing a story of failure before you act, pause. Trust that rejection is not a wall—it’s a doorway to growth, resilience, and alignment with your higher purpose. And always remember: rejection says more about the other person than it does about you.