logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
55m 24s

Listener Favorite: Jason VanRuler on Rej...

Alice Draper
About this episode

In this episode of My Rejection Story, host Alice Draper speaks with therapist and author Jason VanRuler about the complexities of rejection, particularly in relationships. They discuss the importance of rewriting personal narratives, the necessity of grieving losses, and the journey towards authenticity. Jason shares his experiences with rejection and how they shaped his path to becoming a thought leader in the mental health space. The conversation emphasizes the value of community, the challenge of faulty beliefs, and the growth that comes from embracing rejection.

Takeaways:

  • You can rewrite your story and make it true.
  • Grieving a future is a different kind of grief.
  • Growth comes from feeling and grieving loss.
  • It's better to share scars than wounds.
  • You need a purpose greater than yourself to take risks.
  • Simplicity scales, complexity fails.
  • Practice saying no to build confidence.
  • Surround yourself with people who uplift you.
  • Rejection can prompt personal growth.
  • Authenticity is key in relationships.


For anyone listening, you can order a copy of Get Past Your Past on Amazon, here: https://a.co/d/gIGMvYQ 

I will also be giving away a copy to a listener who subscribes and reviews the podcast. You just need to email screenshots to media@hustlingwriters.com.

To find out more about Jason VanRuler and his work, visit: https://www.jasonvr.com/ 

Follow Jason on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason.vanruler/ 


  • Up next
    Oct 8
    Tara Jaye Frank: Leaving A Marriage, Learning Through Publisher’s Rejection, & The Helper’s Dilemma
    In this episode, bestselling author and former Hallmark executive Tara Jaye Frank joins Alice to talk about the messy, courageous process of letting go—of careers, of marriages, and of identities that no longer fit. From leaving a long-term marriage to walking away from a lucrati ... Show More
    57m 18s
    Sep 24
    Jamie Varon on Delayed Gratification versus Instant Gratification & How To Detach From Results
    What if success takes longer than expected?In this reflective and empowering episode, writer and creative entrepreneur Jamie Varon joins My Rejection Story to talk about the uncomfortable space between effort and outcome. We dig deep into the psychology of delayed gratification v ... Show More
    21m 56s
    Sep 17
    Arielle Estoria on The Human Need for Belonging & Unfolding
    What if the fear of rejection is actually a fear of being fully seen?In this poetic and soul-searching episode, author and spoken word artist Arielle Estoria opens up about what it means to grow beyond who the world expects you to be—and how devastating, liberating, and cyclical ... Show More
    46m 43s
    Recommended Episodes
    Dec 2024
    Turning Community Support Into Global Poetry Success | Rupi Kaur EP 828
    Have you listened to the FULL EPISODE yet?"I had no access point to this 'industry' of publishing and literature. But what I had was a community on Tumblr and Instagram of young women who felt so seen by these words." - Rupi KaurAt just 21 years old, Rupi Kaur defied traditional ... Show More
    7m 51s
    Mar 2025
    how to turn REJECTION into GROWTH: the best revenge to overcome hurt, regain confidence, & move forward | REDEMPTION ARC
    Rejection is your SUPER POWER… The greatest form of revenge, is using rejection to FUEL your passion instead of putting it out. If you’ve felt rejected, you know how hard it can be to let go/forgive, or move on from the past. The truth about rejection, is it’s actually a GIFT onc ... Show More
    21m 39s
    Sep 2023
    Trevor Noah & Jay Shetty: When You Feel Lost In Life
    Today's motivation covers feeling lost, gratitude, and identity. Audio Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5BHutz6P-g Quote of the Day: “We spend so much time being afraid of failure, afraid of rejection. But regret is the thing we should fear most. Failure is an answer. ... Show More
    22m 22s
    Jan 2025
    Mel Robbins: The Life-Changing 'Let Them Theory' to Overcome Fear, Self-Doubt, and Build Stronger Relationships in Work, Love, and Friendships
    How would your life change if you stopped worrying about what others think and started living for yourself? In this empowering episode, Marianna sits down with Mel Robbins, renowned motivational speaker and author, to discuss how to break free from fear and judgment, and take bol ... Show More
    49m 33s
    Sep 29
    Overcoming the Odds: She grew up on a cotton farm as one of 17 children and overcame domestic violence, and poverty.
    Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Mildred J. Mills. Topic: Life journey, resilience, and her memoir Daddy’s House: A Daughter’s Memoir of Setbacks, Triumphs, and Rising Above Her Roots Mildred J. Mil ... Show More
    31m 41s
    Apr 2025
    Stop Waiting. Start Living. Why You Feel Stuck - And How to Break Free and Reinvent Your Life | Natalie MacNeil (Fan Fav)
    Lisa Bilyeu sits down with Emmy Award–winning entrepreneur, author, and creator of She Takes on the World, Natalie MacNeil. From launching her first company at just 21 to becoming a guiding force for women ready to embrace their full selves in business, Natalie shares her candid ... Show More
    51m 9s
    Sep 3
    Fear of Rejection
    Fear of rejection is one of the biggest hurdles in dating, often holding people back from putting themselves out there or forming deeper connections. In this episode, we unpack where this fear comes from, how it ties into past experiences and self-worth, and why rejection is not ... Show More
    46m 42s
    Jul 2023
    4 Ways to Stop Fearing Rejection and Start Feeling Confident
    When you see an attractive woman you’d love to meet, fear of rejection likely holds you back. “What if she doesn’t like me?,” you think. Or if you want to go for a first-date kiss, the R-word paralyzes you, and you worry, “What if she turns away?” Hello, Friend Zone. In dating, f ... Show More
    36m 31s
    Jul 2023
    Brianna Holt, "In Our Shoes: On Being a Young Black Woman in Not-So 'Post-Racial' America" (Plume Books, 2023)
    Part memoir, part cultural critique, In Our Shoes: On Being a Young Black Woman in Not-So 'Post-Racial' America (Plume Books, 2023) uses pop culture and author Brianna Holt’s own lived experience to dissect the stereotypes and preconceived notions that young Black women must over ... Show More
    43m 17s