How to approach people without being afraid of rejection?

So of course I (25F) know that if I want to meet people, I’m going to have to approach them and I can’t just wait around for the 1 in a million chance that someone will think I’m cool from far away and approach me.

But how do I get over a fear of rejection to be able to do that? I worry too much about being given the judgmental side eye, people asking why I’m talking to them in the first place, them thinking I’m a creepy weirdo, etc.

I mean, I CAN take rejection in the sense that I obviously know that no means no and if someone tells me or gives me hints they don’t want to talk, I’ll back off. But it will also eat me up inside to the point I’ll probably never try again.

Advice?