Is defeating doubt, the ultimate mission impossible?
It’s not you, it’s universal
What does Tom Cruise have to do with doubt? Well, aside from my Dad being dubious about both this month’s theme and the new Mission: Impossible movie, it was only when we went to see the latter, on Sunday night, that my thoughts on doubt finally dropped into place.
That, and the fact that writing this edition of Future You, felt like a mission impossible in itself. But that is the nature of doubt; your limiting beliefs are broadcasting so loudly that connecting with faith and self-belief can feel impossible.
Back to my writing, the irony is not lost on me that in choosing to write about doubt, I have spent the past week racked with, you guessed it, doubt. Originally, I wanted to publish with the title, When in doubt, which my Dad (we can probably call him Editor in Chief at this point) suggested I leave at that, followed by an infinite number of ……
Not wanting to shortchange my subscribers, I had two further attempts at drafts before I slammed shut my MacBook in frustration, went to the movies and saw the subject of doubt play out on a significantly larger screen.
So here we are. Whether you’re doubting your next post, creative project, dinner recipe, or plan to save the world, it all boils down to the same question.
Who will win? You or your doubt?
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to overcome your limiting beliefs.
Somewhat of an expert on the topic at this point, read on for some actionable insights on how to do just that.
What you’re up against
One of the biggest challenges with doubt is that it’s rarely related to one thing. Deeply intertwined with our limiting beliefs, it’s entangled with fear, confusion, habits, self-sabotage, and our comfort zone…where would you start?
Well, like in Mission: Impossible, the answer is rarely floating around on the surface. Rather, getting to the core of the problem usually requires you to go deep.
As humans, we are programmed to seek what we’ve known. We may like to think we’re pursuing happiness, meaning, or fulfilment, but in reality, we’re usually clinging to comfort. Why? Because ultimately, we’re trying to protect ourselves, and our comfort zone is a familiar space which feels safe.
In other words, our limiting beliefs are designed to protect us from the perceived danger that comes with venturing into unfamiliar territory.
The first step to overcoming limiting beliefs is to become aware of them. It is this self-awareness that signals that we have outgrown these narratives and allows us to begin the process of updating them to beliefs that better serve us.
Inaction increases doubt
Back to Mission: Impossible. Living up to its name, it truly is an impossible mission, and while some of the scenes are wildly unrealistic (no spoilers here), do you think that stops Ethan Hunt and his team? Of course not.
This ties into an idea I shared last month: direction > details. We think we have to have it all figured out, to have an elaborate plan, before we can begin. But this thinking only sets us up for failure.
Ethan Hunt knows this all too well. You don’t see him getting all in his own head about the details or needing to have all the answers. There’s no time to sit around crafting perfectly-formed plans. Even when Hunt does have a plan, he can’t get too attached to it, because rigid plans would fail to allow for all the unknowns that are thrown at him along the way.
Doubt thrives on inaction. It wants you to feel afraid, to stop and second-guess yourself, to be paralysed with confusion. It knows that you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take and that it kills more dreams than failure ever will. Which is why, in the face of it, one of the best things you can do is take action.
No matter if you’re unsure or afraid, focus on one action that moves you towards where you want to be - a vote for the person you want to become, that helps to quieten those limiting beliefs. There’s an E.L. Doctorow quote about writing that’s also true for life - “Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
The antidote to doubt is belief
We may not need to have it all figured out, but what we do need is to have faith. To believe that we can figure it out along the way. Enter Ethan Hunt - a prime example of exactly this. It’s not entirely clear whether Hunt believes he can pull off the impossible mission. But, he knows he has to give it his best shot, which means he’s too busy focusing on the task at hand to get sucked into a sea of self-doubt.
But what about when you don’t believe in yourself? The good news is that it’s not only self-belief that helps to defend against doubt. Whether you believe in the universe, a god, a higher power, or a cause - what you put your faith in matters less, the main thing is you believe in something.
And then there’s Hunt’s team. When everything else fails, in the moments that we do see doubt flash across his face, Luther, Benji, or another member of his team reaffirms that belief for him.
Much like its friends' fear and shame, doubt breeds in isolation. The more we keep it to ourselves, the more it perpetuates and the further we spiral. But doubt is universal. Having the courage to share our doubts in a safe space or plugging into supportive communities helps to highlight that we’re not alone and gradually disintegrate them.
The moral of the story? The mission would be impossible if it weren’t for all the people who believe in Ethan Hunt along the way. So, surround yourself with people who believe in you, whether that’s a trusted friend, your parents or a community of like-minded writers. Find the people who will be your Benji, constantly reminding you, “We'll figure it out".
Don’t undermine yourself
Silence. Even the word itself is enough to make some of us squirm with discomfort. But, as Ethan Hunt demonstrates, being comfortable with silence is a powerful tool that shouldn’t be underestimated.
We live in a world of constant chatter, where anyone with an internet connection can blabber on about anything, for as long as they like. And so, silence is often seen as a weakness.
But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Often, the moments we regret most are those when we react, opening our mouths before we’ve had the time to think about how we’d like to respond. However, clear, confident communication comes from knowing what you want to say, which requires time and thought—aka silence.
Then there are the times you know exactly what you want to say, but aren’t sure how it will be received. When you’re outside your comfort zone, it’s easy to fall into backtracking or undermining yourself by speaking too much. Silence not only conveys confidence, but it also forces the other party to say something, giving you valuable insights to leverage. This is why when Hunt makes his outlandish requests, he doesn’t add an explanation; what follows is silence. When in doubt, zip it.
PONDER:
“...For the record, I never had a moment of doubt. I knew you'd find a way. You always do. I hope, in time, you can see this life is not some quirk of fate. This was your calling. Your destiny. A destiny that touches every living thing. Like it or not, we are masters of our fate. Nothing is written. And our cause, however righteous, pales in comparison to the impact of our effect. Any hope for a better future comes from willing that future into being. A future reflecting the measure of good within ourselves. And all that is good inside us is measured by the good we do for others. We all share the same fate -- the same future. The sum of our infinite choices. One such future is built on kindness, trust, and mutual understanding, should we choose to accept it. Driving without question towards a light we cannot see. Not just for those we hold close, but for those we'll never meet…”
- Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning
I hope this instalment of Future You has sparked some inspiration. If so, please do share it with a friend or colleague who could also find it useful.
Regardless of what current impossible mission you are wrestling with, I’ll leave you with two final thoughts:
I can highly recommend listening to the Mission: Impossible theme song to help inspire you to take the next action that moves you one step closer towards where you want to go.
If Tom Cruise can still do his own stunts, then you can wrangle 1,500 words to publish a post on doubt or [insert your own mission here].
No doubt, you’ll figure it out,
SJ