Doubt

Doubt. 

"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will," are the words of author Suzy Kassem. When I think of doubt it reminds me of the children I taught in elementary school. Doubt is not a quality often possessed by young children, but it does begin to rear its ugly head sometime in the mid-elementary years. Second graders rarely doubt their ability to do anything if it is presented with enough enthusiasm. Meanwhile, convincing a group of fifth graders that they are capable might be a losing battle. 

A young child never limits their aspirations in adulthood to only one thing. In fact, they confidently embrace multiple, and very different future occupations. Being a ballerina and a doctor is a no-brainier when you are seven. 

Now obviously, as we mature we gain a more realistic view of our strengths and weaknesses, but what saddens me is that our doubts limit our possibilities. We rarely give ourselves the opportunity to fail before we let our doubt insist that something is impossible. 

We worry too much about how we might appear to the world. Embarrassment and foolishness become our biggest enemies. Why is it that theses two words are nowhere on the radar of a child? In fact, most everything they do is embarrassing and foolish, and yet we as adults find it endearing. 

So what do you do with doubt? You know that it exists, but denial comes easily. Perhaps you would do better to just accept it. By not denying its presence you don't allow it to determine your future. Start by pushing past your doubt a little at a time. Look it squarely in the eye and let it know that you will determine your future.