I don’t want you
camping out in my head,
tainting my conviction,
intruding on my fantasy,
creeping up on my perfect moments,
making me think of
bland middles
and bitter endings
when
beginnings
are still sweet.
Of this, I am certain.
++++++++++++++
Do you take solace (or even revel) in a smidge of certainty in a sea of doubt? Is doubt really so bad? Or is it perhaps a necessary stage of growing certainty/faith?
{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, could this be any more perfect for me right now? I don’t know about certainty but I do have faith that things will work out and that the obstacles will only be fruitful lessons.
I think doubt is certainly a close cousin to certainty. I think doubt is important – it makes us search, question, explore, and learn.
i am not afraid of doubt. where i grew up it was sin, but that just caused people to keep it hidden and have issues…i think it is a part of the faith journey…
Belinda,
First of all, I loved the poem. I have to confess, visually it reminded me of a scarecrow and somehow that seems fitting as a scarecrow is meant to send doubt into any flying bird thinking of munching on a farmer’s crop:~)
I think there are different kinds of doubt or maybe, better said, different perspectives. Doubt can give you time for reflection about an action, which may be good. It can also chain you to your own fears, which isn’t good.
I think we have to look our doubts in the face and decide whether or not this doubt needs to given an ear or be thrown out on its ear:~)
Great thinking poem, Belinda:~)
doubt creeps toward me threatening to suffocate – too often he is powerful and fighting him off leaves me tired. Oh, sweet beginnings… but sweeter still the triumphs of overcoming doubt in the middle on my climb to reach an end!
I’ll admit it…I’m a doubter.
Show me the proof !!!
Loved your One-Shot Belinda
Sounds like something my girlfriend would say to me.
I agree with Talon. Doubt makes us explore,search and learn. I like the way you wrote it,”I don’t want you camping out in my head…” Very nice,Belinda.
I’ve felt this way before. Well expressed!
i can understand wanting to keep it at bay, wanting to keep things sweet instead of bitter. i really liked this one.
It’s a lovely poem. But my “certainties” in life are few. A fair amount of healthy doubt goes far in managing expectations, and also, finding compassion for others and why they do what they do.
Everything in moderation?
I love the idea of having a conversation with my doubt and telling it to find a new campground! I do think doubt is part of the process, as long as we focus more on the sureness than the unsureness. If I’m really stuck, it usually means I will have a big a-ha.
Doubt does sometimes hold us back in life and love.
I like “when beginnings are still so sweet”.
Nice One Shot.
i like this on several levels and not the least is the ending as certainty overcomes doubt, leaving no room for it to ‘camp out in your head.’ you offered a good list of some areas in which doubt can raise its ‘ugly head’ and i am glad you included “tainting my conviction” as this is an area that is sorely lacking today and also that you included “intruding on my fantasy” and if that is lacking we are all in trouble. good job on this!
Ah, but this is not real life is it? In real life they’re ALL there ready to strip us of everything we own or are, right down to our self esteem! There’s no other way but to fight back, but it’s not always easy…
Indeed! Enjoyed the pun!!
We need to give it a try and begin instead of getting lost in doubts.. How else we would know?
A very profound piece-
Hugs xoxox
Dear Belinda
Great one.. and I can relate to it so much.. thanks for sharing…
Shashi
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/05/whispers-buddha-and-life.html
At Twitter @VerseEveryDay
Doubt pushes me into places I don’t want to go. And sometimes, actually, it is a good thing. I like the camping out in my head line. Very nice Belinda.
Love the metaphors. Doubt hits us all, typically when we need it the least.
No. I don’t like people telling me why not. I think that they mean well, but I want encouragement and good positive vibes too. I liked your poem. It really speaks to how I feel about well meaning negativeness.
Hi Belinda,
I love this and think you wrote it just for me. Do our doubts now each other? I think they’re best friends. I’m sending mine to the same campground.
“camping out in my head” I love that, however, I was actually thinking of another person (one who instigates doubt)…either way, a wonderful, tight write & one shot ~
Oh yesss!! I hear ya, Belinda! Doubt can cripple our minds… at the same time, it can even urge us into something constructive…
It’s okay if it’s the latter.. but otherwise, it’s just toooo scary…
I really like the way you have laid it all out in your poem, my dear friend… very nice!
It has a place but you certainly don’t want it parked too long
thanks for the thought provoking One Shot
Well said. Negativity can be contagious.
Perhaps doubt is the pause we need to get to the right finish line…:)
Thoughtful words for the day!
I doubt – too much. And it is a poison, but perhaps a necessary evil.
No one can camp out in your head unless you let them.