The Relationship Between Certainty And Doubt

Apologies for a long time without posting!! I promise I haven't forgotten about this site, in fact, I have been coming up with more ideas of what to post, but am so busy! Here is an AP Lang practice essay that we did, that particularly struck my interest (it reminds me of the whole concept of Belief, something I have already talked about on here). So here's this!

Masha Tchesnokova

Mrs.

AP English Language & Composition

03/20/2023

One should have certainty to the extent that one can accomplish anything and live happily, but doubt to the extent that one has to consider all options before moving forward with a decision, accept when he/she doesn’t know something, and know things can change anytime.

The simple rule about belief can be explained through an anecdote of two different people. Person A believes that he/she can do something, and/or he/she wants to do said thing, so he/she can. He/she has the opportunity to, at the very least. However, Person B either does not believe that he/she can do it or doesn’t want to do said thing, so he/she can’t do it. He/she doesn’t have the opportunity.

This analogy works for change. If one believes one can change, one can. And if one doesn’t? One can’t. It’s a simple scientific equation. Therefore, the only principle in the way of change is the one that is its sole driving factor: desire. If you want to change, you not only can, you will. If you really want to change. Where can this be seen? The American dream is what it is known to be because if you really want to be something, it is guaranteed you can be it. All you have to do is want it, this will drive you to make decisions that stay on the right path. If you want to be a Surgeon, no matter if you go to an ivy league or state university, if you want it enough, you will get there, one way or another. So it doesn’t matter that it’ll take 13 years, it doesn’t matter if you go to an ivy league, time and certain requirements don’t matter, all that matters is your drive, want, desire, motivation, passion, whatever you want to call it.

But in order to even get to the point where your desire is ALL that matters, you actually have to believe in yourself first. Person A believed whereas Person B didn’t.

Therefore, you have to believe in yourself enough to accomplish certain things and live happily, but you actually must want it, too.

On the other hand, you cannot make choices without considering all your options and accepting some fundamental beliefs. Using the career example again, you are never going to be 100% certain that surgeon is what you want to be if you haven’t actually considered your other options: for example 1) Interior Designer, 2) Author, and 3) Social Worker. Once you’ve convinced yourself of what you want to be, only then can you be certain as you work towards goals such as happiness.

However, if the ultimate goal in life is happiness, then you must also know that you won’t always know or understand something and you have to accept that too. Additionally, your choices/decisions/opinions can change at any time. Ultimately, it is important to understand that essentially nothing is for certain since it can change. However, we can believe that the change is for the better and know that some things don’t and won’t change.

In order to remedy this slippery slope, one can practice “it’s done until it’s not.” We decide, we want, to trust and believe something won’t change (of course it might) but since doubting is a place that doesn’t lead to happiness we stay in the “certainty” instead (until we do or don’t doubt again).

In order to achieve the ultimate goal of happiness: we must abide by the “it’s done until it’s not” rule. We have to believe and want, have certainty, to the extent that we can accomplish whatever, but, to put it shortly, know nothing is for sure.

What do you think? Let me know down below!☺