It's only by opening up yourself to the possibility of rejection and failure that you also open the door to the opportunity and hope for success.
It hurts when it doesn't work out "forever" but when it does, there's nothing else like it. Centuries worth of poetry and literature will tell you that in all communities and in all locations around the world, this is true.
I'm a sucker for a classic RomCom. One of my favourites is Notting Hill when the Julia Roberts character wants to try and make it up to Hugh Grant's and asks for a second chance, "... I'm also just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her...." and he says No because he doesn't want to go through the pain again. Very well observed.