Rejection Challenge

Have you heard of rejection therapy or the rejection challenge? Jia Jiang has popularized this challenge where he “adventures boldly into a territory so many of us fear: rejection. By seeking out rejection for 100 days — from asking a stranger to borrow $100 to requesting a “burger refill” at a restaurant — Jiang desensitized himself to the pain and shame that rejection often brings and, in the process, discovered that simply asking for what you want can open up possibilities where you expect to find dead ends.” – Ted.com
My friend and teacher Marilyn Mansilla encouraged me and three other girls to have a little taste at this challenge and navigate through 7 days of rejection. The prompts are seemingly easy but as we will learn, even the “easy” things in life seem to take more courage than we expect.

If you’d like to join this challenge, Jia Jiang doesn’t stop there. Check out his 100 Days of Rejection Therapy list to find out more.

“My goal was to desensitize myself from the pain of rejection and overcome my fear (I explain my reason why here in my TED talk). Three criteria I set for myself: 1. Ethical (no lying or marriage-undermining) 2. Legal 3. Doesn’t defy the law of physics.

It has been an incredible journey and transformation for me, and for many who started their own 100 days of rejection therapy. I don’t know what your dreams are in life, however beautiful and ambitious they are. I want to let you know you don’t have to be born with the most talent. You don’t have to have all these assets. All you need is the courage to face your fear, even in the face of rejection. If you don’t give up, you will get it!”

Jia Jiang

Day 1 Friendly Hello

I didn’t leave the apartment today until later in the day when my partner was home, the week before was super social and high energy for me, talked to lots of strangers so today I took a break and did some videos for my next step on a job application.

Jono and I went for a walk to get out of the apartment and I said hi to a stranger at one of the apartment’s lift. It was easy because I talk to and greet strangers for a living 😅 I feel like I also cheated a little bit because Jono was with me but with all the context from last week, I’ll save some energy I’ll make a point to go out to the park or a café by myself for the next days.

The lady I said hi to also started talking to us afterwards so we had a little conversation about where she’s from, how long she’s been in New Zealand for, her children in Melbourne and Dunedin.

I think the first couple of prompts 1-3 are going to be easy but 4 onwards will be interesting. The biggest issue for me on days that I stay and work from home is to have the willpower get out of my apartment by myself to begin with. It’s also hard because it’s been overcast and rainy in town so there’s not a big temptation to go out if I don’t really have any business outside but I need to make a point to do it for fresh air and walking around regardless. It’s something that I’m trying to work on myself regardless of the Rejection Challenge.

Day 2 Time Ask