238. Rejection As Redirection: How to Shift from Feeling Shame to Feeling Empowered with Dr. Sasha Shillcutt

Healing Medicine: Mindfulness, Mindset & Physician Well-Being

When we hide our rejections, we become small. When we talk about them, the rejections become small.

Today’s special guest is Dr. Sasha Shillcutt, a trailblazer in both medicine and women's empowerment. Dr. Shillcutt is a cardiac anesthesiologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and the founder and CEO of Brave Enough, a community dedicated to empowering women. Along with being a researcher, speaker, author, wife, and mom of four, Dr. Shillcutt is an advocate for gender equity and making space for women in leadership roles.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone who’s faced rejection and wants to turn it into an opportunity for growth and redirection.

Being rejected can propel you forward, if you choose to step out of shame, and instead learn to stand tall, embrace your journey, and keep moving forward with optimism.

If you want to live a big and meaningful life, you will experience a lot of rejection.

Rejection happens when you put yourself out there. When you stand out, you get cut down more often. When you get cut down as “Tall Poppy”, you can grow back taller and stronger, but it takes self-compassion, mindfulness, patience, and support.

Rejection doesn’t usually reflect our abilities or our work; we can be the best, and still face setbacks, not get a role, or have a marriage fail.

Rejection is often not about you. It is also about fit, timing, and other people.

It often means: "Not Yet, Not Here, or Not Now.” It can be a signal to course-correct and move toward something that aligns better with your true purpose.

When we can learn to embrace rejection with curiosity, rather than internalizing it as a judgment of our worth, it can become a catalyst for growth and a life well-lived.

High-achieving women often face criticism, resentment, and rejection. The more accomplished you are, the more likely you will be to face aggression and/or rejection, from those in positions of seniority and/or from your peers.

If you want a kind and supportive community to help you navigate the world as a Tall Poppy, join Ongoing Presence Small Group Coaching. You can join the spring 2025 cohort until February 25th.

Pause & Presence Retreats are also a beautiful nourishing space to turn your past rejections into growth experiences. You will acquire all the tools you need to turn them into catalytic events and launching points for a more aligned, meaningful, and joy-filled life.

Join Jessie and Sasha at the Brave Enough Conference in September. Jessie will be leading a mentorship group, offering coaching, and teaching yoga and mindfulness.

Connect with Dr. Shillcutt at becomebraveenough.com and/or follow her on Instagram for more inspiration and empowerment.

*Nothing shared in the Mindful Healers Podcast is medical advice.

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