From the moment we’re born, we’re vulnerable and dependent on others for survival. Because of that, rejection feels threatening. It shakes our sense of security and self-worth.

Rejection stirs up memories of other times we’ve been criticized, judged, ridiculed, abandoned, or compared to someone else. It creates self-doubt and makes us wonder whether we should change ourselves to fit what we think others will accept.

But not all the rejection we perceive is real. We often imagine what others think of us, and most of the time we’re wrong. Even when people do judge us, their opinions aren’t always accurate.

Imagine being the last person on Earth, with no one to impress and no one to compare yourself to. How much of your self-doubt would disappear? Without the pressure of external evaluation, many of our insecurities lose their power.

You may face rejection from many before you’re accepted by a few. But your worth isn’t determined by how many people approve of you, and your inner peace doesn’t have to be either.