It’s easy to crave certainty in the face of uncomfortable doubt.

When we doubt our own abilities, we crave certainty in the form of praise from authority. We seek awards and recognition.

When we doubt our own path, we find solace in the prestigious path laid out by family, society, or our own expectations. Or we crave a dream world of success without discipline, where we don’t have to try and fail.

When we doubt our own value to the world, we crave acceptance. We find it in the co-dependent embrace of a needy partner often mistaken for love. Or we find it in the boss who loves us for how hard we work for them.

We find certainty in the next 3 tequila shots or the next Instagram like. There is certainty in the next dopamine hit. There is certainty in remaining unhappy. 

There is no certainty in introducing yourself to the most attractive and interesting people. There is no certainty in chasing your interests and intuitions beyond what’s considered sensible. There is no certainty in personal freedom.

Doubt forces us to reflect and ask difficult questions about ourselves and our tasks. Doubt will force you to confront questions like– “Is this career still interesting? Who am I really and why do I feel this way around this friend group? How can I get better at this?” 

Without doubts, we are left with mind-numbing certainty. Certainty has a major flaw– it lacks unknown outcomes, positive and negative. Therefore, living with doubt produces a unique and adventurous life.