Doubt—we all know that feeling. Whether it’s the voice inside telling us we’re not good enough, or the external pressures pushing us in directions that don’t feel right, doubt can feel like an obstacle.
Yet, doubt also has a unique power to make us pause, reflect, and focus on what truly matters.
What if doubt could be both the weight we shed and the force that lifts us up?
Doubt as a Double-Edged Sword
Doubt shows up in different forms. It can manifest as the fear that holds us back or as pressure from societal expectations.
I remember a time when, despite accolades and awards, I was haunted by a quiet, unrelenting feeling that I didn’t measure up. It didn’t matter what others said. That inner critic had me convinced I was lacking, and eventually, it crept into my body as a dis-ease, a heaviness I couldn’t shake.
But doubt can also protect us. It’s the instinct that says “no” when the world around you is pushing you toward “yes.” I remember feeling pressured to stay in a relationship, fearing others’ disappointment more than trusting my own instincts.
That doubt reminded me to stay true to myself.
Can Doubt Be Both Limiting & Empowering?
Doubt can feel limiting, especially when it leads to excessive self-questioning, indecision and procrastination. But it also has an empowering side.
It was the shifting between the balanced/unbalanced ego, filling me with certainty in one breath, and pulling me down with doubt in the next. I didn’t realise it at the time, but that back-and-forth was shaping me, helping me refine what truly mattered.
Bertrand Russell said it well, “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves… and wiser people are full of doubts.”
The beliefs I held when I was younger are not the ones I hold now, and that’s a testament to doubt’s transformative power.
In my younger years, I thought I had all the answers.
The LeadingME® Ladder of Leadership
Doubt has made me a lifelong learner. Today, I welcome doubt.
It helps us challenge our assumptions and stay open to new ideas, allowing us to grow.
The LeadingME® Ladder of Leadership talks about the importance of balance. It’s easy to fall into the extremes of overconfidence or excessive self-doubt, but true strength lies in that middle ground. That middle ground, or as I call it ‘LeadingME® where we engage with doubt just enough to stay humble, aware, and open to learning.
When we live in that centre-ground, we’re not afraid to ask questions, to see things from multiple angles, and to evolve.
Overcoming Doubt Requires Courage & Action
Doubt doesn’t disappear on its own. As Charles Bukowski put it, “Doubt is only removed by action.”
To transform doubt into strength, we have to meet it head-on, taking small, focused actions, we can’t sit back and hope for confidence to find us.
So, when doubt arises, take a moment to ask yourself: Where is this doubt coming from? What does it reveal about my path forward?
This honest self-inquiry transforms doubt from a barrier into a motivator. It’s a central idea in the Silencing Your Inner Critic free webinar, where we guide people through the 4Rs Release Model®.
When doubt is met with courage, it becomes a strength.
Embracing Doubt as Your Greatest Leadership Tool
Doubt is neither negative nor positive—it just is. Sometimes, it’s calling us to let go of what no longer serves us. Other times, it’s asking us to see something from a new perspective.
So, the next time doubt appears, don’t ignore it. Instead, pause, reflect, and let it guide you. Let it lead you back to your values, to your happiness and to what matters most to you.
Each time you choose courage over hesitation, you’re not just overcoming doubt—you’re stepping into your brilliance. Doubt is a reminder that we are on a constant journey to become who we’re meant to be.
Stay True, Stay You
And Keep Bringing Out Your Brilliance!
