Self Doubt

Today’s View From On The Shore

Self Doubt. How many of us can honestly say that this is something that we haven’t experienced. We all have self doubt at one time or another (except maybe Tom Brady). Whether it is parenting choices, a job interview that didn’t feel like it went very well, or even a job that might not have gone as planned. Or maybe you doubt your ability to re-enter the workforce after a long hiatus, or even your decision about your career choices.

So, how do we deal with self doubt?

I heard an expression yesterday in yoga class that really stuck with me — The Beginner’s Mind.

So, what does it mean to have a Beginner’s Mind and what does it have to do with self doubt?

As Zen teacher Suzuki Roshi famously said, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the experts there are few.” When we start to learn anything for the first time — a new task or even new phase in life - we are fresh, curious, and open to all the many possibilities and paths. Our mind has not yet been ingrained with opinions, ideas, or concepts that we view as absolute certainties. The Beginner’s Mind is an awakened mind, one beyond certainties and opinions.

So if we apply a Beginner’s Mind to our self doubt we can’t help but to pull ourselves out of it — because it is a mind beyond opinion, even of ourselves.

So, what do you doubt about yourself? What concrete thinking are you willing to shed? How might you use your Beginner’s Mind?

(With gratitude to Louie DePasquale - yogawithlouie.com - for helping me open my Beginner’s Mind)