One of the most impactful lessons I’ve ever learned came from Emmy Cleaves, a legendary figure in the world of Bikram Yoga. Emmy was more than just a yoga instructor—she was the principal of Bikram Yoga, a teacher to teachers, and a source of wisdom for thousands of practitioners. Known for her sharp mind and no-nonsense approach, she had a way of cutting through the noise and getting to the heart of what truly matters in both yoga and life.
One day, Emmy said something that has stuck with me ever since: "Frequently wrong but never in doubt." At first, I didn’t fully understand the depth of her words, but over time, they became a guiding principle in both my yoga practice and my life.
Doubt is one of the greatest killers of dreams and desires. How often do we hesitate to pursue something because we aren’t sure if we’ll succeed? We let doubt creep in—telling ourselves we’re not ready, not skilled enough, not worthy. That tiny seed of doubt can grow into a towering obstacle, preventing us from taking even the first step toward what we truly want.
Emmy’s saying, "Frequently wrong but never in doubt," challenges that mindset. It reminds us that it’s okay to be wrong, to make mistakes, to stumble. But what holds us back is not the fear of being wrong—it’s the doubt that paralyzes us before we even try.
When I first started teaching yoga, I was filled with doubt. I didn’t know how to manage a room full of students, how to guide them through the sequence while keeping the energy flowing. There were moments of uncertainty, where I felt like I was frequently making mistakes. But Emmy’s words gave me confidence. It wasn’t about being perfect—it was about showing up, trying, and learning as I went. Even if I was wrong sometimes, I didn’t let doubt hold me back.
The same applied to my personal yoga practice. I remember practicing standing poses like Garurasana (Eagle Pose) or Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Standing Head to Knee Pose), and I would often fall out of the pose. But even when I stumbled, I didn’t doubt my ability to get it right someday. I believed in the process, in showing up on the mat day after day, and I knew that with time, I would improve. I didn’t allow doubt to cloud my practice or my belief in myself.
When I decided to open my first yoga studio, I was just coming off the excitement of completing my teacher training. But that excitement was quickly overshadowed by doubt. I had very little money—just $7,000—and no experience running a business. On top of that, I had to figure out how to make it work immigration-wise, as I had come to the U.S. on a student visa. Could I really navigate all of these challenges and open a studio?
Doubt crept in, telling me I wasn’t ready. But again, I thought about Emmy’s words. "Frequently wrong but never in doubt." I knew I wouldn’t have all the answers, and I’d likely make mistakes. But I also knew that if I let doubt stop me, I’d never get started. So, I took the leap. I figured out the immigration issues, found a way to make the money work, and opened my first studio.
Was it easy? No. I made plenty of mistakes along the way. But what mattered wasn’t that I made mistakes—it was that I didn’t let doubt stop me from pursuing my dream. I trusted that even if I was wrong sometimes, I would learn, adapt, and eventually succeed. That studio became the foundation for everything I’ve built since, and it only happened because I chose not to let doubt hold me back.
Why Doubt Kills Dreams
Doubt has a sneaky way of disguising itself as reason. It tells us, "Be cautious, wait until you’re sure, take more time to think it over." But while caution has its place, too often it’s just doubt in disguise, keeping us from moving forward. The truth is, we will never have all the answers. We will never be 100% ready. But we don’t need to be. What we need is the willingness to move ahead despite not knowing everything, to embrace the possibility of being wrong, and to trust that even our mistakes will lead us somewhere valuable.
Think about the dreams you have—the ones you’ve put off because of doubt. Whether it’s a career change, a creative project, or even a new relationship, doubt can make you hesitate. But if you wait for the perfect moment, the perfect certainty, you may find yourself waiting forever.
Moving Forward Without Doubt
So, how do we move forward with less doubt? Here are a few lessons I’ve learned:
Accept that mistakes are part of the process: Being wrong isn’t the end of the world. It’s part of how we learn and grow.
Shift your focus from the outcome to the effort: Instead of worrying about whether you’ll succeed or fail, focus on the fact that you’re taking action. Success comes from consistency, not perfection.
Trust that you’ll figure it out along the way: You don’t need to have all the answers right now. Have faith that you will learn what you need as you go.
Remember that doubt is not reality: Doubt is just a thought, not a fact. You can acknowledge it without letting it control your actions.
Emmy Cleaves’ words, "Frequently wrong but never in doubt," remind us that life isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment or the guarantee of success. It’s about taking action, embracing the possibility of being wrong, and moving forward despite our doubts.
The next time you feel doubt creeping in, ask yourself: What would I do if I wasn’t afraid of being wrong?
Then go ahead and do it. Because even if you’re wrong, you’ll be moving in the right direction—toward growth, learning, and possibility.
What dreams have you been holding back on because of doubt?
What would happen if you embraced the uncertainty and took that first step?
Love Sumit Banerjee
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