Can a two-letter word really change your life?

Sophie Jones, a 22-year-old from Warrington, has gained a significant following on TikTok, amassing 180,000 followers. She has made it her mission to step outside her comfort zone in order to build her confidence. Sophie often shares motivational quotes on her social media, such as 'Get out of your comfort zone' and 'Do something every day that makes you feel uncomfortable. ' These phrases are part of a growing trend known as 'rejection therapy. ' The basic idea behind this trend is to encourage individuals to make requests or ask questions that they believe will likely be rejected. The theory suggests that by repeatedly facing rejection, individuals can desensitize themselves to the fear of being turned down, ultimately boosting their self-esteem. Some people take this concept even further by performing quirky and harmless stunts in public, which can attract attention and sometimes judgment from onlookers. While rejection therapy is not officially recognized as a therapeutic practice, many individuals claim it has had a profound impact on their lives. However, mental health professionals caution that this approach may not be suitable for everyone. Sophie Jones is a strong advocate for rejection therapy, having been inspired to try it after struggling with shyness and fear of speaking up at work or making plans with friends. She quickly discovered that the responses she received were often not what she expected. 'I've realized that people do not like to reject other people,' she explains. 'It is very rare that I've got a straight-up 'no' from somebody - I always get an awkward laugh or, like, a 'why? '' Sophie took a bold step when she first attempted rejection therapy in May of this year. She filmed herself dancing in a public park, an activity that would have terrified her in the past. As she continued to push her boundaries, she found herself caring less about the opinions of others. 'Within three days I started to feel less judgement from people,' she shares. 'My whole mindset has changed. ' Now, Sophie regularly posts videos on TikTok where she challenges herself in increasingly eye-catching ways. One of her most popular videos features her painting herself green and walking around busy areas, while another shows her standing in the middle of an airplane and loudly wishing the other passengers a 'good flight,' which garnered an impressive 16 million views. The awkward silence that followed would have once embarrassed her, but now she embraces it. 'I just really don't stay up at night thinking about what the people think about me any more, which is obviously really lovely,' Sophie reflects.