The Space Between Doubt and Drive
How do we manage the voice in our head that tells us we aren’t good enough, or asks what makes us think we belong? It’s the doubt that creeps in when our confidence wanes, often labelled these days as “imposter syndrome.” Is this simply part of life when you set high standards for yourself or are striving toward a goal? And can it even be used as motivation, if you’re grounded enough to recognize it for what it is and push back against it?
I like to think I’ve taken risks in my life and gone after the things I’ve wanted, even when they felt scary. But at the same time, I’ll be the first to admit that I deal with doubt all the time, and Rune is no exception. Some days I’m buzzing and feel like we’re flying, and on others I question everything we’re doing. For me, the real issue is how long that doubt sticks around. If you let it linger too long, it can strip away your ambition, leaving you feeling crushed and unmotivated. Self-pity is one of the worst places you can end up, in my opinion, and if you go too far down that rabbit hole, it’s really hard to climb back out.
The older I get, the more I wonder if there’s ever a point where you’ve completed all your tasks, and even if there were, is that something you’d actually want? I used to think an easy life was a good life, but my perspective on that has changed a lot in recent years. Ease, I’ve come to realize, can be the killer of ambition. If life is too easy, where does the motivation to improve come from?
If we put our ego to one side, don’t we all want to be better? A better partner, a better dad, or even better at understanding how something as simple as a chain line could be more dialed. When used in the right way, doubt can actually push us forward and help us achieve our goals.
I think if you have ambition in life, you’re always chasing the next accomplishment, constantly existing in the gap between where you were and where you want to be. I don’t believe that’s necessarily a bad thing, but there has to be balance, otherwise you risk never feeling satisfied. I once heard the quote, “Material success without spiritual fulfilment will feel like the ultimate failure,” and it stuck with me. You see it play out time and time again, people reaching everything they thought they wanted, only to realize it still isn’t enough.
Inspiration and fun can be a powerful balance helping us stay both ambitious and satisfied at the same time. Finding inspiration in everyday moments can be incredibly motivating. It might be something as simple as a positive interaction with someone you cross paths with, or a photo of a dope bike setup you saw online. It doesn’t need to be much, but if you stay open to it and keep an eye out, inspiration has a way of finding you.
I’ve found it tends to show up most when you’re dealing with doubt, but only if you’re willing to notice it. Just today, I was feeling a bit unmotivated and questioning myself, and then I received a voice note from a customer thanking me for simply answering a question. It was so sincere, genuine, and complimentary that, just like that, I was stoked again.
Lastly, I think doubt can be a great driver of gratitude. There’s nothing like a bit of doubt to make you pause and take stock of where you’re at. We get to build bikes the way I want, ride with friends, my family is healthy, and I have a real sense of purpose, so really, things are good. And when you find yourself back in that space again, there’s no stopping you.