Self Reflection in the City

I recently went to New York and had one of those strange life changing experiences where I felt this sudden duty to throw myself in harms way. I've been painting 15 years (at least) and I've never really shared my work... I guess it was a fear that I've let get the best of me and now I'm trying to overcome that but its scary. Why do we fear rejection so much when its just part of the process?

We're all so different, it doesn't matter is someone refuses to accept us because there are many others who would love to have us in their lives. But still... that act of reaching out is so difficult.