80. The Rejection Spiral: How to Stop Abandoning Yourself to Be Liked

Feel like you’re too much, not enough, or one awkward text away from being exiled from the group chat?

Yep. Been there.

This episode is for the overthinkers, the approval-seekers, the “they took 3 hours to reply so they probably hate me” crowd.(raising my hand here too).

In this vulnerable, no-fluff chat, we dive deep into:

• Why rejection spirals hit so hard (hint: it’s not just in your head — it’s in your nervous system)
• The childhood roots of people-pleasing and self-abandonment
• What’s really happening when you start performing, shrinking, or over-explaining to stay liked
• How to move through the fear of rejection without losing yourself in the process

You’ll also learn my go-to practice for building rejection tolerance (yes, that’s a thing), plus practical tools to regulate your nervous system, stop spiralling, and stay connected to you — even when someone else pulls away.

Because confidence isn’t about being liked by everyone. It’s about trusting yourself enough to stay, even when someone else doesn’t.

In this episode, we cover:

• The biology of rejection and why it feels so unsafe
• The parts of you that hijack your brain when you spiral
• How to stop outsourcing your worth
• What to do instead of shrinking or shapeshifting to fit in
• Real talk on boundaries, shame, and self-trust
• “Rejection reps” — how to build emotional resilience without armouring up

This one’s for you if:

• You feel rejected way more than you’d like to admit
• You lose yourself trying to be liked
• You’re exhausted from performing, fixing, or explaining yourself
• You want to feel grounded even when someone else pulls away
• You’re ready to stop ghosting yourself just to avoid being ghosted

Mentioned in this episode:
→ HEAL Coaching Program — Join here: https://www.kathleenmindsetcoach.com/coaching
→ Follow Kathleen on Instagram @kathleen.mindsetcoach

P.S. Rejection is a normal part of being a human. Abandoning yourself doesn’t have to be.