DOUBT

DOUBT

While it is possible, and perhaps even probable, that others may doubt you on your entrepreneurial journey, for the Reluctant Entrepreneur, the magnitude of doubt is likely self doubt. Whether or not the gate is unlocked, whether you will be granted passage, and whether or not you will succeed may not even be relevant as doubt can be so pervasive.  In the face of Doubt, many are so humbled they make the preventative decision that it is easier to not even make the attempt. Robert Schuller asks “What would you do if you knew you could not fail?”, that sounds simple, revolutionary, and hopeful enough, though taking potentially life-changing action, through looming gates of unknown outcome, may not feel worth the risk. Entrepreneurship and innovation are, in their nature, destabilizing; it will be up to you, whether or not your doubts strengthen your resolve or stop you.

Devil

Though the Devil is seen as a dark and daunting card in tarot, traditional images show that the figures who accompany the Devil are loosely enslaved, more caught up in their own bonds and limitations than those imposed by an outside source. Like the conditioning of the electric fence or the length of a chain, at a certain point, most will stop resisting and accept the limitations that they believe are their fate. Associated with addiction, the Devil suggests the seduction of a choice in excess or that no longer serves. Doubt gets inside to hold us back, often taking on our own voice, even if it originated as someone else’s. In the spirit of the Devil, the Devil’s advocate is the counterpoint. An argument can be strengthened with the exploration and refute of its counterpoint. The Devil is not a bad card; it is a necessary obstacle to be overcome in order to continue to progress on the journey.

Questions to consider:

• How are your doubts serving you or keeping you safe?
• What evidence supports or opposes your doubts? 
• What do you need to be able to make peace with your journey if you decide to stop here?
• What doubt, or devil, are you being asked to face?