HEALTH, WELLBEING.

Self Doubt.

It's a piercing feeling, the one of self doubt, that clouds the mind and the senses. It maybe one of protection, a means of keeping us safe when we are faced with obscurity. Doubt can arise when we feel unsure, yet how much of life is certain?

Self doubt rather than solely a sign of lack of confidence, may serve a bigger purpose, prompting self reflection, fostering humility, a means of slowing down us down in a rapid paced world. It can encourage us towards thoughtful decisions and act as a motivational force.

Nick Cave eloquently details of how a certain amount of self doubt can be “the truest humanising force, keeping us humble, vulnerable, open-minded and connected to the world”. With a cautious reminder not to allow it to become a “compulsion” or a habit that can “shut us down and not allow forward movement”. Self doubt, a combination of thought and feeling, like other emotions and thoughts may not be one to power through but to honour, understand and question. Why is this arising, what might it mean?

By Helen Coutts.

10.07.2025.

References and Further Reading.

Cave, Nick, April 2021,Issue 143, The Red Hand Files Cited online 9th July 2025 https://www.theredhandfiles.com/do-you-ever-suffer-from-self-doubt/

Image Via Kim Verdebo.