Many people want to feel more confident. They want to stop feeling afraid when other people say "no" to them. Now, a new method called rejection therapy is becoming popular. In this practice, people look for small ways to be rejected. They talk to strangers and ask for things. The goal is to hear "no" so they can learn that rejection is not a big problem. This is a popular trend on social media. People record videos of themselves asking strangers for things. They want to show that being rejected is not a disaster.
One person, Hannah Gelbart, tried this method. At first, she felt very nervous. She felt a lot of adrenaline when she spoke to the first person. However, the second and third attempts were easier for her. This shows that practice can make scary things feel normal. It becomes a simple task after you do it many times.
Psychologist Claudia Hammond says that many young people today want to be perfect. This is called perfectionism. Because they want to be perfect, they worry about what other people think. They are afraid that others will judge them. This fear can stop people from trying new things. Rejection therapy helps people face this fear. It teaches people that their value does not depend on what others think. Sometimes, people do not get a "no." Instead, they have a nice conversation with a stranger. This shows that social life can be positive and surprising.