Blessed Are Those Who Doubt

TED* Team · September 25, 2026

I have long been fascinated by doubt.

Years ago, I remember reading about Mother Teresa in a way that genuinely surprised me. After her death in 1997, a collection of her private letters was published in a book. These papers revealed a secret doubt she carried for over fifty years. At times, she felt completely disconnected from God and her faith—often even doubting God’s very existence.

Of all people, I assumed she would be the most certain. Her public life seemed to embody unwavering devotion. And yet, beneath that visible faith lived an interior world marked by silence, absence, and longing. She continued to serve, love, and show up day after day—without the comfort of certainty.

That paradox has stayed with me.

Personally, I believe there is a delicate balance between doubt, healthy skepticism, and confident knowing.  If I lean too far into doubt, I lose my bearings and confidence.  Lean too far into certainty and I become rigid and judgmental of others who do not agree with me or my perspective.

Somewhere between the two is a more neutral place—one that asks for humility, patience, and trust in not knowing too quickly.

Buddhism offers a helpful lens here.  Rather than condemning doubt, Buddhist teachings caution against clinging to doubt or to certainty.  Doubt itself is not a failure. It can be a form of intelligence, a signal that something deserves closer attention. What becomes problematic is when doubt turns into paralysis, or when certainty hardens into unquestioned belief.

This delicate dance between doubt and certainty plays out vividly in our reactive patterns, particularly within the Drama Triangle.

In the Victim role, doubt turns inward. In the Victim role we doubt our worth, our capacity, and the possibility of ever having what we want. The inner dialogue sounds like, “What’s wrong with me?” or “Why does this always happen to me?”  Doubt, in this role, erodes self-trust and self-confidence. Life feels as though it is happening to us, rather than something we can influence.

In the Persecutor role, doubt nearly disappears. Certainty takes over as a defense mechanism. This is the voice that says, “I know what’s right.” “I know what should be done.” Certainty becomes a shield—justifying control, blame, and righteousness. Curiosity fades. What often looks like confidence is a guard against the chaos of feeling vulnerable and uncertain.

The Rescuer’s relationship with doubt is more subtle. Rescuers rarely doubt their intentions. They are certain they want to help, smooth things over, fix conflict, and be useful.  What is often unquestioned is the assumption underneath: I know what you need. Quietly, doubt about one’s own worth can drive over-giving and over-functioning. If I am helpful, I matter. If I am needed, I am enough.

Each of the three Drama Triangle roles holds a distorted relationship with doubt and certainty.

The Empowerment Dynamic® (TED*) invites something altogether different.

As Creators, we learn to doubt our assumptions without doubting ourselves. We question the stories we’ve inherited about what’s possible, what’s required, and who we must be—while staying grounded in our inherent worth.

Creators are not frozen by doubt, nor driven by certainty.  We embrace curiosity.  We ask, “What do I want?” “What’s really happening here?” “What might I not be seeing yet?” Doubt keeps our mind and hearts open, rather than closed.

This is why Mother Teresa’s story continues to move me. Her doubt did not undo her devotion. She did not wait for certainty to return before choosing how to live. She acted from her values even when reassurance was absent. There is something deeply human and deeply humble about that for me.

Perhaps doubt is not something to eliminate, but something to hold gently.  Perhaps it is a reminder that life is larger than our explanations, and that certainty is not required for compassion, courage, or choice.

Blessed are those who doubt—not because they lack conviction, but because they are willing to stay open when easy answers fall away.  Blessed are those who can rest in questions without rushing toward conclusions.

As I age and go through more of life’s challenges, I am learning to see doubt as an invitation to slow down. To listen more carefully. To soften my grip on what I think I know. And in that softening, something quieter and more beautiful often emerges.

Until next time, here’s to the Creator in you.

Donna