Reasonable Doubt: Creativity and the Power of Second Thoughts

Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you are right. ~Henry Ford

When I was in school, I was a “straight-A student.” I made perfect scores on nearly every test.

Our teachers told us: “Go with your first answer, it’s probably right.”

But I knew better.

If I thought I was wrong, I usually was. So, I’d mark the questions I had doubts about. When I was finished with the exam, I’d go back. I’d slow down. And I’d carefully tackle those questions. The strategy worked brilliantly.

Different Doubts

We’re often told not to doubt ourselves. Self-doubt is one way we undermine our best creative efforts. It can be a sign of our low self-esteem. It can keep us spiraling in indecision. And none of those qualities make for expansive creativity and artistic brilliance.

But reasonable doubt, or using our trusted instincts to question ourselves, can serve useful purposes.

It can be a signal to slow down, to take a second look, and to make necessary changes in our writing and in our creative lives.

What’s the difference between reasonable doubt and self-doubt?

The difference is where our doubts come from. And doubt can come from at least two places: fear or trust.

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