Yes, grief hurts and fear of rejection is part of this emotional journey.  We lost part of our identity when we moved from being a wife to being a widow. It’s important that widows remind themselves of the many other roles they play:  mother, sister, aunt, friend etc. Widows need to allow others in, because we often have trouble seeing others as being “available”.  We fear that if we reach out we will be rejected.  We want to retreat, but healing comes when we expose our grief and tell our stories. Write down all your positive qualities and carry it with you to increase your confidence.  Read it over when you’re feeling down, so that you will believe in yourself more. What is the worst that can happen?  If someone does reject you or your need, then what?  We can move forward, stronger and wiser.  The fear of rejection is often worse than if the rejection actually did happen. None of us are immune and of course rejection hurts, but it can be valuable.  You need to understand the differences behind a rejection intended to tear you down and the kind that makes you more self-aware about who is available for you. If you fear rejection, ask people you trust for their honest opinion.  Just be ready to hear what they have to say.  Being happy and joyful in your life doesn’t mean never getting rejected.  It means accepting that it will probably happen to you, but you can not only roll with what comes at you, but also grow stronger over time. So, decide for yourself what you do have control over.  Are you going to challenge yourself to stay on high alert for how you are perceiving your life?  Continually test if your fear of rejection is grounded in fact and throw off the beliefs that are holding you back.