When we're setting out to achieve something—be it an audition, a job interview, or a race—doubt and self-confidence play significant roles. The luxury of harbouring doubt is often a privilege of the rich and famous. For instance, if you're an adult racing against a five-year-old in a 20-kilometre race, doubt becomes inconsequential because the outcome is almost certain.

Doubt serves a purpose for every human being by prompting us to ask "what if" questions. What if I lose? What if I don’t get the job? What if I don't win? These questions, however, should not lead us to plan for failure. Instead, it’s better to approach these doubts with the mindset of dealing with outcomes as they come. For example, if I don't get the job, I'll deal with it then. If I don't win the race, I'll handle it at that time.