Oh doubt, the destroyer of men (and women), the crippler of faith, Satan, you go by many names.
You are so subtle.
How are we supposed to deal with doubt? Or better yet, are we ever supposed to listen to doubt?Because, when doubt comes, it always feels justified, natural.
Doubt is the voice of fear. Its root can always be found in fear.
Doubt is different than questioning. Doubt feels terrible. We think if we engage with doubt we will find clarity (that is its promise). But doubt only leads to more doubt.
Questioning is: “maybe I shouldn’t drive recklessly.” It’s not doubt to be aware of the cause and effect / law based world we live in.
Doubt is: “I know that I’ll never find the partner/relationship I want.”
Doubt masquerades as rationality. But in reality, doubt is the only reason there is any merit in this world for any action. Without doubt, life would be simple. You would see very clearly that you will get everything that you want. You would have no doubt about why you want what you want, or whether it is holy/appropriate/worthy. You would walk through life, with extreme patience and calm, relaxed, and in love, as all that you wanted formed around you.
Doubt stands between you and all that you want. Doubt is the voice that says: “I want this, it is good (in the most objective sense of what we can ascertain…or at least not bad), but I don’t think I should/can have it/do it/ make it/ etc.”
Doubt is the reason you are unhappy, unfulfilled, hopeless, etc. It is the reason you are sick. It is the reason you are suffering.
I feel it now, as my fingers flow over this keyboard. “What are you writing this blog for? Do you know how much content like this there already is…who are you to think that you can do it?”
“We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be?” — Marianne Williamson
The problem is, we believe our doubt. We think it is true. We think we need to believe it.
Let me ask you, what if the voice in your head was not the voice of doubt, but the voice of radical encouragement? Would it be any less true? It might just not-true, but it would be a whole lot more helpful. In truth though, it would both be more helpful and more true. Because your inner being, your soul, has no doubt. It knows you can be/have everything you want. In fact, it already has it. So, when you do not listen to doubt, you are actually living much more authentically.
Doubt kills creativity. It kills flow.
You know when you don’t doubt anymore? When you’re connected to your inner being. You cannot fake it. You will feel excited, passionate, alive, joyous, and fearless. If you’re feeling that, what is there to doubt anymore?
If you need any convincing that your only limitation is doubt, go listen to David Goggins who pushed his body to levels that are medically impossible. So don’t even listen to doubt when it masquerades as science or fact. If you want something, you must believe it to be so. How can you create something if you don’t believe in its existance?
We do not need to listen to doubt. I dare you to live a life where you don’t listen to your doubt. Think I’m crazy?…I probably am.
I know what you want to say…
“But doubt motivates me!” Please read this: