Imagine willingly putting yourself in situations you know have a 90% chance of ending in rejection. For most, the thought is anxiety-inducing, but for Ziphozonke, it’s becoming a regular practice documented for the world to see on TikTok.

Using her TikTok page (@zee.mgazi), this content creator from KZN is documenting her rejection therapy journey and changing the way she views rejection and how she handles being told ‘no’.

Rejection therapy is a form of self-improvement where individuals put themselves in situations where they are most likely to be met with rejection. The premise of rejection therapy is to desensitise people to the fear and emotional discomfort that comes with rejection. By making bold requests or asking for unusual favours from strangers, participants actively seek out situations where they might be told ‘no’.

The ultimate goal for this is to reframe rejection as a stepping stone or redirection rather than failure or a setback, helping people become more comfortable with taking risks or be bold enough to go after their dreams without the crippling fear of failure. For Ziphozonke, self-improvement content is something she regularly consumes, and it’s how she came across rejection therapy. “I was watching a guy deliver a TedTalk about his journey with rejection therapy and the lessons he got from it. It really resonated with me because I felt like I always had moments in my life where I wanted to do or ask for something, but I never went through with it because I was scared,” she explains.

After being inspired to start her journey, documenting it and sharing it with her audience on TikTok was the first step to the beginning of her journey because while Ziphozonke is a content creator, rejection therapy videos were not exactly up her alley, and she wasn’t sure how her audience would receive them. “Posting the first video wasn’t actually part of my initial plan because it isn’t like my regular content. But I saw how well people received it and I felt comfortable with sharing more and that’s how it all started,” she says. The goal for this journey was to get herself used to hearing ‘no’ and not letting that stop her from trying new things.

Ziphozonke has learnt a few surprising things about herself throughout her journey. “Growing up, I’ve always labelled myself the shy kid, but I’ve learnt that I am actually not shy,” she says. “I was a little reserved when I was younger, and the people around me labelled me as the shy kid, and, for a very long time, I carried that identity. But I’ve learnt that I’m not shy; I was just very scared of approaching people. Ever since I started sharing my videos, I realised when people approach me, I open up easily, so I’m not shy,” she explains lightheartedly.

Another added benefit to rejection therapy is that it gives you the courage to allow yourself to open up to new experiences. Think about it: how often do we stop ourselves from going after our dreams, applying for that dream job, or even starting a simple conversation because we are paralysed by the overwhelming fear of rejection? This fear keeps us confined in our comfort zones and reduces the potential for growth. In one of her videos, Ziphozonke says: “Your fear of being rejected is holding you back,” a statement that resonates with a lot of us, reminding us that some of the opportunities we miss are sometimes a result of our fear of facing rejection. Ziphozonke’s journey with rejection therapy shows that embracing rejection and learning to move past it can lead to a life full of unexpected opportunities and new possibilities.

But of course, Ziphozonke’s rejection therapy series on TikTok has not been completely easy to digest. While most of her videos in this series are lighthearted and humorous, some are really hard to watch. One in particular that had several people, myself included, holding their breaths was when she wanted to make an announcement in a store. That task was also challenging for her, but she kept going; one can’t help but wonder how she keeps herself motivated to carry on. “It’s the five seconds of courage, that’s all you need,” she says. “I try not to anticipate any answers. I just focus on getting the courage to get my task done, and I go for it.”Ziphozonke and other creators have highlighted the role social media plays in how audiences consume self-improvement content.

Platforms like TikTok are an ideal space for sharing personal growth journeys. The short video format allows creators to deliver impactful messages in bite-size pieces. It makes journeys like these more relatable while creating a sense of community and solidarity in the comment sections. Her journey highlights the power of rejection therapy. By documenting and sharing her experiences, she shows that rejection is not something that should be feared but is a natural part of life that can lead to unexpected growth.

As she continues to share her journey, viewers need to approach her content and more self-improvement content with care. Each video offers a unique perspective into the uncomfortable emotions that are triggered by self-improvement videos, and it is essential to remember to treat yourself with kindness as you engage with this content because each journey is unique to each individual.

You can join Ziphozonke’s community and follow her brave journey on her TikTok page as she continues sharing her rejection therapy videos and changing how she views and deals with rejection.