A New Way of Being

Radical Acceptance: Rejection as a Path to Belonging

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Episode notes

Rejection is something we all experience, and for many the experience can be brutal. But even when we go to a social event, part of the reason we tend to stick to the people we know is to avoid the pain of feeling rejected, however slightly. So this is a universal issue. In this episode, I sit down with author, therapist and non-dual teacher Nic Higham to unpack one of the most challenging human experiences. Whether it’s the sting of a passing comment or the deeper wounds that stick with us, rejection has a way of leaving its mark on our sense of belonging.

Nic and I explore how these moments can shape the stories we tell ourselves – often ones of unworthiness – and why, instead of resisting rejection, we are better off embracing it. Nic introduces the concept of radical inclusivity, where rejection is welcomed as part of life’s natural ebb and flow. Using metaphors like the ocean, he shares how facing rejection with compassion can lead to a stronger sense of wholeness.

We also dive into the role of the inner child and how unmet needs can leave us chasing external validation rather than recognising the acceptance we already have within us. Nic offers practical tools, including strategies from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and exposure therapy, to help navigate rejection without being overwhelmed.

My book Champion Thinking: How To Find Success Without Losing Yourself draws on some of my favourite interviews over the last six years. In it, I seek to challenge our ideas about 'success', and where peace, joy and fulfilment are truly to be found.

'This book captures the magic of being in flow . . . Highly recommend' RONNIE O'SULLIVAN

'Entertaining and enlightening' MATTHEW SYED

'This book will challenge your thinking on what success truly is and will give you tools to "succeed" in life in the truest sense of the world. This is definitely not just another book about sport and those who happen to be good at it' -- GOLDIE SAYERS

'The intention behind this book is beautiful, and I highly recommend it' RUPERT SPIRA

'The best guide we have to what it means to be human' AMOL RAJAN

Order here: https://www.simonmundie.com/book

Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Champion-Thinking-Success-Without-Yourself/dp/1526626497/