So I'm hoping that someone here can shed some light on how I get started rectifying my years of ignorance with women.

I'm 35 (hopefully not too late to learn), divorced approx. 4 years and have not really dated during that time. Yes, I'm shy in regards to women and yes I have a strong fear of rejection. I guess my question is how to work past that.

I'm told that I'm attractive. I'm in good shape. I seem to portray confidence in every other area of my life to the point where people call bullshit if I mention my struggles with women. But when it comes to actually approaching women, I'm stuck. I freeze. The few times I've summoned the nerve to do anything, I've been shot down in one way or another. I understand those instances may have had nothing to do with me, but I typically feel like I royally screwed up somewhere. I'm a basketball player at heart, with a shooter's mentality, and fully understand the analogy of missing 100% of the shots you don't take. But the rejection seems to cement those fears even more.

I've tried the online thing without much luck and, honestly, I see enough attractive women in my daily life that I just would prefer to grow the balls to approach them.

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.