Doubt gets its own Drawer?

Doubt, Darling, You’re Not the Boss of Me

Let’s be honest: doubt never really announces itself politely.
It doesn’t knock. It doesn’t RSVP.
It arrives mid-thought, wearing yesterday’s feelings and a suspiciously unwashed hoodie.

Just when you think, yes, this is ready,
Doubt sidles in like a nosy neighbour and says,
“Sure? That? Really? You?”
Cue the nervous spiral, complete with interpretive dance and a soundtrack of self-questioning.

Because not every thought deserves a TED Talk.
Some just need a quiet corner and a biscuit.

Drawers are:

• Private
• Functional
• Containable
• Surprisingly good at hosting emotional gremlins without letting them redecorate your entire brain

They say:
“I see you. But I also need to keep living.”
And possibly shower.

• One well-worn imposter syndrome pamphlet, annotated with encouraging doodles and passive-aggressive sticky notes
• Three half-finished drafts titled “Not Quite” and one titled “Maybe Later, But with Snacks”
• A post-it that reads “They probably hate this,” with “probably” underlined twice and a doodle of a dramatic pigeon
• That one compliment I didn’t believe (but couldn’t delete either, it’s laminated now)
• A to-do list I redid three times because I didn’t trust my own priorities or my handwriting

All stored gently.
Nothing shoved. Nothing tossed.
Folded neatly beside a pack of backup biscuits.

We love a tidy story: confidence wins, doubt loses.
But the truth is fuzzier.
Like a cat in a laundry basket.

Doubt sometimes saves us from assumptions.
It gives us pause, and pausing often creates better work.
It checks, re-reads, reevaluates, and tweaks.
It stops the rush.
And awkwardly, that’s often when the real clarity shows up.
(Usually wearing pyjamas and holding a cup of tea.)

• You can have doubt and still create excellent things
• You can question yourself and still be right
• You can hesitate and still move forward
• Confidence is not the absence of doubt; it’s the willingness to keep going while carrying it like a slightly overpacked emotional tote bag

And let’s not forget:

Sometimes, the people who doubt themselves most have the most to offer
Because they’re watching the details, feeling the impact, and caring a little too hard (on purpose, but with flair).

We’re big on reframes in this spiral-space. So:

• “I second-guessed myself” → I gave it a second glance, just in case it needed more care
• “I’m being indecisive” → I’m honouring complexity (and possibly snack options)
• “I keep worrying I’ve missed something” → I know small things matter (especially commas and kindness)
• “I have imposter syndrome” → I haven’t been affirmed the way I needed to be (yet)

Sometimes all it takes is language that lets us stay soft without collapsing.
Or collapsing stylishly.

Giving doubt its place doesn’t mean letting it overrun the whole desk.
So Bloggyness recommends a closing ritual:

• Reread your own words with fresh eyes, not fearful ones
• Ask, “Is the doubt protective or just panicked and wearing a cape?”
• Write: “This is the best I can do today, and that is enough.”
• Place the lingering thoughts in the drawer. Literally. With a hand motion. Give it a satisfying click.
• Go make tea. Possibly with a biscuit. Possibly with two.

The drawer will still be there tomorrow.
You don’t owe it all your hours.
Or your snacks.

• Creative work? Let doubt review the draft, but only after Joy’s had a go
• Big decision? Let doubt list its questions, but don’t give it the final vote
• Nice compliment? Let doubt blink awkwardly, then thank it for its concern. You’re keeping the compliment.
• Wobbly moment? Ask, “Would I talk to a friend this way?” If not, into the drawer it goes. With a glitter sticker.

Doubt likes input.
What it often needs is context.
And possibly a nap.

Imagine you’ve just shared something: an email, a blog post, a finished project.
You’re proud. But also…

• “What if it didn’t land?”
• “Did I come off weird?”
• “Was that too much?”
• “Will they think I’m unprofessional? Self-indulgent? Cringe?”

Pause.
Breathe.
Acknowledge the spiral.
Then say:

“Doubt, darling, you’re noted. But I’m choosing to believe this version of me was enough today.”
Then… you guessed it.
In the Drawer.

Click.

You don’t have to banish doubt to be brilliant.
You don’t have to be certain to be valid.
You don’t have to wait for silence in your head to move forward.

You are allowed to carry questions.
You are allowed to take a deep breath and still hit send.
You are allowed to create beautiful things while unsure if they’re beautiful.

Doubt is not your enemy.
Just a sometimes-snarky, often-overzealous internal editor who finally got its own drawer.
Tidy. Contained. Lovingly ignored until needed.
And occasionally bribed with biscuits.

Explore more with us:

• Browse Spiralmore collections
• Read our Informal Blog for relaxed insights
• Discover Deconvolution and see what’s happening
• Visit Gwenin for a curated selection of frameworks

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I manage multiple live websites, numerous publications, and patents – delivering research, strategy, and commercialisation expertise.