Self-Doubt

“Why do I doubt myself?” said the Stag.
“Because you’re not good enough,” said the Rat.
“Who would you be without self-doubt?” said the Wren.

The River didn’t doubt.

You know what you should do. You've thought it through. The path is clear.

But then the voice: Are you sure? What if you're wrong? What if you're not good enough?

And suddenly you're second-guessing everything.

Self-doubt isn't wisdom. It's not careful consideration or healthy scepticism.

It's the Rat protecting you—from risk, from failure, from being seen as not enough.

The Rat says: "Because you're not good enough." And you believe it. You've believed it for so long, it sounds like the truth.

But here's the question that changes everything:

Who would you be without self-doubt?

Not what would you achieve? Not what would you try?

But who would you become if that voice wasn't constantly questioning whether you're enough?

The decisions you'd make. The risks you'd take. The person you'd show up as.

Self-doubt keeps you safe—and small. It protects you from failure by preventing you from trying.

The River doesn't doubt. It flows. It doesn't question whether it's enough, whether it should turn left or right, or whether it's making the right choice.

It just moves.

Stories from the Vltava