Breaking the rejection cycle: How to stay bold in business

Feeling stuck after rejection? Discover strategies to break free from the patterns holding you back.

Do you ever feel like doors keep slamming in your face? You’re out here running your own business, trying to make it work, sending emails, making calls… and nothing. Either you hear crickets, or people say things like, “I can’t think of anyone who needs what you offer” or “I’ll get back to you,” and then… silence. Yeah, I get it—it’s tough, and honestly, it sucks.

Here’s the reality: we have to sell our services if we want our businesses to thrive. Rejection is part of the deal, and even though we know that, it still feels awful, especially when you have a busy, neurodivergent brain (with or without ADHD). If you’re nodding along, you might have experienced something called Rejection Sensitivity.

For many of us neurodiverse folks, this hits hard. Some people even get labeled as HSPs—Highly Sensitive Persons. It’s real, and it’s heavy. I’m linking an article about how to cope with this, but first, let’s dive into what’s happening in our brains.

Our brains LOVE patterns. They don’t care if the patterns are helpful or harmful—they just want to stick to what’s familiar. So, if you’ve experienced rejection over and over, your brain starts making a pattern out of it. It’s not about whether you’re “doing it wrong” or “too much,” it’s about your brain following the same loop.

Here’s the good news: you can outsmart your brain. Even with rejection sensitivity, we can break the cycle. If you’re used to feeling like you’re “too loud,” “interrupt too much,” or “don’t take social cues well,” this is especially important for you.

There are four things you can do to manage rejection sensitivity, and they all start with an “R”: Recognize, Respond, Reflect, and Reframe.

  1. Recognize
    First, notice how your body feels when you hear something you didn’t want to hear. Are you tense? Clenched? Pay attention to those physical signs—it’s a huge first step.
  2. Respond
    Once you’ve noticed the tension, do something to shake it off—literally. Stretch, shake your arms, or take a deep breath. You’re not trying to think yet; you’re just getting your body to relax. Trust me, loosening up your body helps clear your mind.
  3. Reflect
    Now that you’ve calmed your body, it’s time to reflect. Ask yourself: “Is what I’m thinking really true?” Maybe you’ve been telling yourself stories like, “This will never work,” or “That person must not like me.” Dig deeper—often, those stories aren’t the whole truth.
  4. Reframe
    Finally, it’s time to reframe. Once you’ve questioned the stories your brain made up, you can start to shift your perspective. This step takes more thought, but it’s powerful. Journaling, talking to a coach, or even taking a quiet walk can help you get there. When you start reframing how you see yourself and your situation, real change happens.

Let me give you a personal example. Before I owned my house, I didn’t see myself as a homeowner. So naturally, I kept getting in my own way when it came to saving money, applying for a mortgage, and handling the responsibilities that come with owning a home. But once I shifted my mindset to “I am a homeowner,” things fell into place. The same can happen in business. When we boldly put ourselves out there, things shift.

When I offer my services, I make it clear: “I’m here to shake up your thinking.” It takes boldness to say that, but the more I give, the more confident I become, and the more people respond positively. And when I ask, “Do you know anyone who could benefit from this?” they don’t just shrug—they know exactly who could use my help.

Speaking of bold moves, we’re almost at the end of October, and that means there’s still time to grab my Libra Birthday Gift—five powerful questions that will challenge you and help you think bigger. Fair warning: if you’re not ready to push yourself and grow, this isn’t for you. But if you’re ready to take a leap, then it’s time to sign up!

So, what’s your next step to being bolder and braver? How are you going to risk hearing “no” in the next few days? Let me know in the comments below or sign up for that call!

You’ve got this!

p.s. If you are wondering what the rejections might be all about, WATCH THESE PEOPLE so you can get into your prospect’s head!