'Gremlin' is a well known term in coaching circles representing the 'inner critic,' a personification of the negative inner voice. Gremlins are conceived through the passing along of negative or self defeating messages which have been internalized throughout life. Well meaning parents, teachers, siblings and associates who like our selves are challenged intermittently with the voices of the gremlin have (unconsciously) passed these along. When the voice of the gremlin overpowers our authentic voice, it can feel difficult to go after what we most desire, as we become plagued by self doubt, fear, or feelings of low esteem.Gremlins are discouraging, and can easily convince us that we are not capable or worthy of being, having, or doing what we desire to experience in life. At times, it may appear as though there are insurmountable obstacles blocking us from realizing our goals, such as: writing that book, starting a new business, losing weight, healing a relationship, etc.
Gremlins may discourage you from speaking up for yourself, or act to obscure your own needs in favor of others’. Gremlins also nurture feelings of low self esteem, which can prevent you from taking advantage of opportunities. Familiar messages such as "I'm not good enough" or "I can't, shouldn't, or won't succeed" are expressions of the gremlin. Gremlins make it very easy to envision a “worst case scenario” for every situation.
My role as a coach involves ‘co-creating’ a space that allows the individual to remember his or her innate magnificence. This is particularly crucial at times of transition, when it is easy to lose touch with one’s authentic nature, in addition to the truth and power that is within. When moving into new territory, as in committing to a new venture, gremlins emerge because they are invested in keeping you safe and protected from imagined threats and failures. If we resist the voices of our gremlins we may 'white knuckle it’ through life's challenges, but I have found their influence grows when we choose to deny or ignore them.
A gremlin's influence can be so compelling and powerful that it becomes difficult to distinguish between the gremlin's voice and what our own heart is communicating. Without a supportive structure, it can be impossible to keep your vision for your life in clear sight. As a life coach I ask powerful questions in addition to utilizing a variety of empowering tools to assist individuals in remembering and accessing more of their own inner wisdom, creativity, and power.
Have you ever had the experience of being chased in a dream and it seemed that the harder you ran from a shadowy pursuer, the tougher it was to shake them off? Dream interpreters suggest that if an individual has such a nightmare, he or she is actually making a conscious, pre-sleep decision to face the opponent head on, rather than running away. If one can face the frightening pursuer, the dream figure will then appear in another form–one that allows for you to connect in a new way. Often in dreams, parts of ourselves that we find unacceptable do their best to get our attention, occasionally by scaring us into submission. Thus the dream tells us to listen more closely to our deeper pain and the needs that lie beneath it. Through acknowledging rather than ignoring the gremlins, we allow ourselves to gain important insights and reclaim buried treasures once left behind.
In a coaching session, I asked a woman if she would be willing to meet her gremlins through a creative process. She agreed and a powerful healing experience ensued. This woman decided to meet her gremlins head on, and even though at first it was difficult for her, she committed herself to draw pictures of her gremlins on a few sheets of paper. After each drawing was complete, her intuition gave her little messages which she wrote at the bottom of each page. Each message conveyed a feeling, and once she set about connecting the dots to these emotive messages, a memory was triggered. This triggering effect allowed her to remember a time as a child in which a teacher had told her she couldn't draw. Over time her gremlins had limited her pursuit of art, yet once she decided to meet them, the emotional release provided her with rich insights and genuine healing. By allowing her gremlins to emerge in a space of compassion, she opened up to a process of reintegrating her creative gifts and was able to move her art to a new level.
After a bit of training, you may find that these gremlins are really giving you an opportunity to retrieve a part of yourself or reclaim a gift that you previously set aside. By nurturing your authenticity and exploring more of your creative nature you can be inspired to express your 'true self' and pursue your desires. As your authenticity grows, the gremlin’s voice and power also wanes, and eventually fewer thoughts will deter you from acting on and realizing your heart’s dreams.
Alana Tobin
About the author:
Spirit-Centred Coaching differs from other coaching options such as Corporate, Executive, or Success-building coaching styles in that Spirit-Centred Coaching facilitates living an extra-ordinary life–a life that is the authentic expression of an individual's Soul 'Essence' embodied. Spirit-Centred Coaching increases clarity and mastery of one's self and of one’s life. Individuals gain a clearer understanding of how one's beliefs, emotions, and behaviors shape their experiences. This growing self-awareness activates empowered and conscious choices from the heart.
Over the past 27 years, as a Facilitator and Life Coach, Alana Tobin has had the privilege to work with people who have focused on and achieved the following types of goals: creating a new career, achieving health and fitness goals, creating more fun in life, achieving more balance, reducing stress, improving communication, creating more fulfilling relationships, developing spiritual awareness, mastering emotions, and opening to creativity.
Live Your Heart Story
Website: www.heartstory.co.nz