Without a doubt

Certainty has no place in the creative arts.

If you want to follow rules and stay with the status quo there’s nothing wrong with that. Just don’t expect applause. Don’t be surprised when your work is forgotten. When it doesn’t stand out from the rest of the work in your field.

By following certainty you made sure not to.

Certainty can feel warm and comforting. Certainty polishes the ego, wipes away worry. Certainty makes people feel safe.

But certainty can become a trap.

Doubt is where wonder lives. Doubt invites questions, different viewpoints, a sense of unease that leads to new eyes.

Certainty says, “This is how it’s always been done.”

Doubt says, “That’s fine but I wonder if we could try something different.”

Certainty says, “I know the solution to this problem.”

Doubt says, “I wonder if there could also be another solution.”

Certainty says, “This will never work.”

Doubt says, “I wonder if it may.”

Most of the things we consider true certainties—about ourselves, about others, about the world we live in—are just repeated stories we tell ourselves.

We’re certain we’re not smart enough, or brave enough, or good enough.

And because we’ve nurtured these stories they feel and sound true.

But try a little doubt.

Question these self told tales. The ones that are standing in your way instead of moving you forward.

Be brave enough to doubt, just a little. Every day. Little by little. Eventually, you will see a change.

Of that you can be certain.

I was inspired to write this post after someone told me, with certainty, that AI will make all artists obsolete.

I truly doubt that.

Image Credit: Photograph of Australian pelican standing in front of “No fishing” sign. Captured using a zoom lens © Chesna/ pixabay