How to Heal Rejection Sensitivity & Fear of Abandonment | Therapist Kyira Wackett on Radical Acceptance and Self-Trust

In this returning-guest episode of The Empowered Grief Journey Podcast, host Chris Mamone welcomes therapist, speaker, artist, and Adversity Rising founder Kyira Wackett back to the show for a deep conversation about radical acceptance, the hidden grief of not being able to control outcomes, and what it takes to rebuild self-trust after trauma.

Kyira—known for leading the “anti Band-Aid” movement in mental health—breaks down how fear, shame, and quick-fix thinking keep people stuck, and how healing often requires facing hard truths with compassion. Together, Chris and Kyira explore how thoughts vs. beliefs shape our self-worth, why many of us use other people’s reactions as “data” to decide our value, and how trauma can show up in relationships through rejection sensitivity and fear of abandonment.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What radical acceptance really means (and what it doesn’t)

• How to release the need to control other people, outcomes, and relationships

• The difference between thoughts vs. beliefs—and why it matters for healing

• How childhood trauma and caregiver loss can create fear of leaving/being left

• How to stop outsourcing your worth and start living by your values

• Why grief can include mourning what you can’t control—and moving forward anyway

If you’re navigating grief, trauma, anxiety, fear of rejection, or relationship triggers, this conversation will help you feel seen—and give you a grounded path toward authenticity, resilience, and values-driven living.