Lifestyle

Entrepreneur Connor Miller Shares Top Tips For Dealing With Rejection And Self Doubt

Published

5 years ago

December 15, 2020

It’s easy to understand why many people dread and even fear rejection. If you’ve experienced it once, or a few times, you probably remember how much it hurt and worry about it happening again. There is no doubt that rejection hurts and subsequently brings about feelings of self-doubt. However, fearing rejection can hold you back from taking risks and reaching big goals.

Fortunately, it’s absolutely possible to work through this mind-set with a bit of effort. Here are some tips from entrepreneur Connor Miller to get you started on ways to deal with rejection and self-doubt.

Keep reminding yourself that you are worthy

It never feels good when something doesn’t happen the way you wanted it to, but not all of life’s experiences will turn out the way you hope. No one can really tell you how you’re feeling, except you. Connor Miller explains this from his perspective below.

“Building up self-confidence and self-worth can help you remember that you’re entirely worthy of love and respect, leading you to feel less afraid of continuing your search for it,” he shares.

Never forget everyone has their own share of rejection

Reminding yourself that rejection is just a normal part of life, something everyone will face at some point may help you fear it less. Don’t allow the feeling of self-doubt to bring down your worth.

Look for a learning Opportunity

It may not seem like it right away, but rejection can provide opportunities for self-discovery and growth.

“Rejection can sting and make you doubt yourself,” Connor Miller admits. “ but fearing it may limit you, preventing you from experiencing much of what life has to offer. Choosing to look at rejection as an opportunity for growth instead of something you can’t change can help you feel less afraid of the possibility”

Realize your part in the situation and face your fear.

“Exploring what’s really behind your fear of rejection can help you address that specific worry. Sure, if you don’t put yourself out there, you won’t experience rejection. But you probably won’t achieve your goals either.”

There is no doubt that going for what you want gives you the chance to experience success. You might experience rejection but then again, you might not. You will never know until you give yourself that push.

Let it out to a friend or loved one

Bottling up rejection and negative situations can make them feel and seem a lot worse than they need to be. Getting external help can be extremely beneficial. Letting it all out and talking it over with a friend, partner or family member can help you to release your pent up emotions and to start seeing the situation with clear and sober eyes.

Keep going

Trace your feelings back to certain life events and play the memory over and over in your mind, as if it were a movie.

“ Process what has happened,” Connor says, “ learn what you can but don’t let the rejection stop you for too long. Don’t let it get you stuck for weeks or months. “

With a focus on what you still have in your life, make up your mind on what you can do differently. Turn your attention to your opinion of yourself and what actions you can take, and keep moving forward!

Lifestyle

Confronting Propaganda: Street Smart Documents Honest Reactions to Gaza Indoctrination Footage

Published

4 hours ago

November 6, 2025

Michelle Langton

Photo Courtesy of: Street Smart

Byline: Michelle Langton

In a recent project, the Street Smart team gathered 20 strangers and presented them with propaganda footage from Gaza that has circulated widely online but remains largely unfamiliar to many audiences. The aim wasn’t to provoke outrage or test media literacy in a classroom setting. It was to capture raw, unfiltered emotional reactions to material that reveals how narratives are formed at the source. The resulting video offers a candid look at how people process shocking content and how their perceptions shift when they see what is rarely shown on mainstream platforms.

The Structure of the Experiment

The format was simple. Participants were seated and shown a series of clips from Gaza, including children’s programming and broadcasts containing intense ideological messaging. No background information was provided, and viewers were not instructed on how to interpret what they were seeing. After watching, they were asked for immediate reactions.

The footage elicited a wide range of emotions. Some viewers were stunned by the content, admitting they had never seen anything like it before. Others expressed disbelief, questioning why this kind of material isn’t more widely discussed. A few were visibly shaken, saying the experience fundamentally altered their understanding of the situation.

By presenting the footage without narration or added commentary, Street Smart allowed participants’ genuine responses to emerge. The experiment revealed how propaganda can affect an entire generation. It can shock, unsettle, and force people to reconsider their assumptions.

Why This Project Matters

Sage Fox and Dorani aligned the purpose of this experiment with Street Smart’s broader mission of challenging prevailing narratives and encouraging critical thought among younger audiences. In an environment where footage spreads rapidly across digital platforms, propaganda can shape public opinion long before context catches up.

By showing the Gaza Indoctrination footage in a controlled setting and recording uncoached responses, the team aimed to expose the emotional and cognitive impact of this type of content.

“The first reaction is often the most revealing, because it shows how powerful images can be without context.”

The Range of Reactions

While each participant brought their own perspective, several themes emerged. Some expressed sympathy with the imagery itself, saying it was emotionally powerful.

One participant said, “It makes me question what I see online every day. How much of it is shaped this way?”

Their comments highlight how propaganda resonates differently depending on prior knowledge and exposure. Many viewers have simply never encountered such footage directly.

Street Smart’s Approach

This project continues a pattern established by Sage Fox & Dorani’s earlier videos. Rather than relying on experts or lengthy analysis, Street Smart focuses on real people and their honest reactions. The approach is simple but effective. Present potent material, listen to what people say, and share those moments with a wider audience.

The Gaza Indoctrination footage experiment fits this model. It doesn’t attempt to draw final conclusions or offer political commentary. Instead, it documents how people respond when they’re exposed to narratives that are usually filtered through intermediaries.

Implications for Media Literacy

Beyond its viral potential, the video raises broader questions about how people interact with powerful imagery online. Propaganda operates on emotional reflexes. As this experiment shows, those reflexes are often unexamined until they’re brought to the surface.

Sage Fox & Dorani hope that projects like this push audiences to think more critically about what they see and share.

“The purpose is not to tell people what to believe. It is to remind them that every image comes from somewhere, and that source matters,” they said.

Next Steps for Street Smart

As Street Smart’s platform grows, Sage Fox & Dorani plan to conduct similar experiments in different contexts. They intend to use their direct, street-level approach to highlight how people react when presented with challenging material.

The Gaza footage project is one piece of a larger mission. The team uses simple methods to shed light on complex issues. By focusing on authentic reactions, they continue to build a unique space in online media that blends cultural investigation with raw human response.

A Window into Unfiltered Thought

“We showed 20 strangers real propaganda footage from Gaza — and filmed their unfiltered reactions” is not a dramatic exposé or academic study. It is a clear, unmediated record of how individuals respond when confronted with material designed to persuade. In that restraint lies its strength.

By documenting these moments, Street Smart shows how awareness can begin with a pause. A brief space between seeing and believing.