Sura Karnawi
3 min readJun 25, 2023

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Why we have so many doubts?

Today at the library, my son and I stumbled upon a children’s book called “Doubt.” “Doubt” is an intelligent and unique children’s book that combines subtle humor and a touch of irony. It delivers a reassuring message to young readers, emphasizing that uncertainties are a common part of life.
This book opened my eyes to the significance of self-doubts in life, a topic that is rarely discussed in a positive light.

Sura Karnawi author, doubt book by Pia Valentinins

Imagine our lives are like puzzle pieces, and we don’t have the full picture yet. Each piece represents an aspect of our journey, and when assembled, they form a complete picture. However, at any given moment, we only have a limited view of the puzzle. Accepting that each new chapter comes with self-doubts allows us to approach life with curiosity, embracing the fact that we don’t have all the answers. Self-doubt becomes a natural part of the puzzle, urging us to seek knowledge, learn, and gradually gain the clarity needed to fit the pieces together.

Having self-belief without clarity can bring confidence but not clear decision-making, which can be destructive. It’s okay to not know everything and to seek knowledge for clarity. By having a “maybe” mindset, we stay open to new possibilities and are more likely to make well-informed decisions by questioning our assumptions. We allow ourselves to have doubts and question our own initial assumptions.

I’d like to share an example of the benefits of experiencing self-doubts in a creative process. The creative process involves feeling uncertain, sitting with not knowing, and questioning. As an artist, you might embark on a new task feeling excited and motivated. However, as you delve deeper into the creative process, doubts and self-criticism may emerge. You may feel dissatisfied with your initial ideas or struggle to find the right direction. Instead of avoiding these feelings, you embrace the discomfort and embrace the stage of not-knowing. Through persistent questioning, experimentation, and reflection, you gradually uncover new insights, refine your ideas, and ultimately achieve creative breakthroughs.

Creative process: 1) This is awesome 2) this is tricky 3) this is hard 4) this is terrible 5)I’m terrible 5) this might be ok 6) this is awesome
Creative process: 1) This is awesome 2) this is tricky 3) this is hard 4) this is terrible 5)I’m terrible 5) this might be ok 6) this is awesome — Doubt book background

In conclusion, acknowledging that we don’t have all the answers shows humility and honesty. Self-doubts can be valuable as they motivate us to seek answers, explore different perspectives, and gain a deeper understanding. Embracing a “maybe” mindset allows us to question our assumptions and ultimately find greater clarity.

Doubt book by Pia Valentinis

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Sura Karnawi

I feel the more I live the more I become convinced I don’t need more knowledge, materials or anything I just need more open heart & open mind to people & ideas