The Echo of Doubt

It’s early morning on the farm. The bushveld is still… that kind of stillness that makes every sound carry.

Somewhere in the valley, a fish eagle calls out, its cry bouncing off the cliffs, strong, then lighter then fading away.

And for a moment, I hear my own echo in that sound, the echo of doubt.

You know that feeling, right? That quiet voice that questions every direction. It’s not loud or dramatic, it just lingers… and makes you hesitate before taking the next step.

I’ve heard it in my leadership decisions, when writing, even in love, that inner pause that asks, “Are you sure?”

But here’s the thing I’ve learned. Doubt isn’t always the enemy. Without it, we risk arrogance, and doubt can humble us, it can sharpen our thinking and remind us to listen more deeply before we act.

Even in organisations, I see this same pattern. Teams hesitate to innovate, to trust, to change, not because they don’t care, but because they doubt what’s possible. Yet when doubt is acknowledged instead of avoided, it becomes an invitation to dialogue. It opens space for learning.

As the sun comes up and the mist starts to lift from the valley, with calmness I’m reminded again, clarity isn’t born from certainty. It’s born from the courage to stay still long enough to be able to listen.

Many Blessings.

Johan Slabbert

www.johanslabert.com