What if I put myself out there and no one cares?
“What if I put myself out there and no one cares?”
Oof. That one hits deep, doesn’t it? That quiet whisper at the back of your mind. The one that shows up right when you're finally ready to post the video, send the email, or hit ‘go live.’ What if they scroll right past? What if they laugh—or worse—say nothing at all?
The fear of rejection isn’t loud. It’s not dramatic. It’s subtle. Sneaky. It doesn't scream—it whispers. Play it safe. Wait a little longer. You’re not ready yet. And before you know it, days pass. Then weeks. Months. Your dreams shrink just enough to still feel like they’re “there,” while your momentum quietly drifts into neutral.
Let me tell you something I’ve had to learn the hard way: playing small doesn’t protect you from rejection. It just guarantees regret.
I remember the first time I hit “publish” on something personal. It felt like standing naked in the middle of a crowded room. I kept refreshing the page, waiting for a comment, a like—something. Crickets. For two days. My face stayed hot the entire time. But you know what? On day three, a message came in. A woman said my post made her feel less alone. That message cracked something open in me. And I haven’t shut up since.
Here’s the truth: most people aren’t ignoring you. They’re just busy battling their own fear of not being seen. When you show up anyway, despite the fear, you give them permission to do the same.
Rejection is not the enemy. Indifference isn’t either. The real enemy is silence—from you. The longer you hold back, the longer the people who need you will stay stuck waiting for someone like you to speak.
And yeah, not everyone will get it. Some won’t care. That’s okay. You’re not for everyone—and that’s what makes you powerful. You don’t need everyone. You just need the right ones to hear you. The ones scanning their feed, praying someone will say what they’ve been thinking but too afraid to voice.
So here’s something to chew on: What’s worse—being ignored by a few strangers or never discovering how many people you could have helped, inspired, or connected with?
Put the post out. Record the messy video. Launch the thing that’s been sitting in your drafts. Let people see the real you. Not the polished, perfect version—the raw, trying, honest version. That’s the one people relate to. That’s the version that changes lives.
And hey, if no one claps the first time, clap for yourself. Loudly. Because you showed up. And that’s where momentum begins.
