GAILs stands for Gremlins, Assumptions, Interpretations, and Limiting Beliefs--the key energy blocks that reflect how we think about our challenges. This four-part series is designed to help us face our GAILs head-on.
Today, we tackle:
A Gremlin is that little voice inside our head that tells us we'll never be good enough--no matter how hard we work, no matter what we try, we're destined to fail at it, so why bother?
A Gremlin is the worst possible critic because the voice seems rational because it's coming from inside us. We hear the voice and think that maybe there's something to what it's saying.
We think it's our voice--even our "voice of reason."
Maybe there was once a real voice attached to it:
A parent who told us that writing was a waste of time.
A teacher who thought our poetry read like a Hallmark card.
An agent who didn't find our plot believable.
An editor who didn't find our voice authentic.
A reviewer who thought our work was trite, and the topic overdone.
A writer who preached the impossibility of ever "breaking out". . . .
And we believed them.
And somewhere along the way, that voice became OUR inner voice--our Gremlin.
The problem? That voice, which is rooted in fear, can lead to some serious self-doubt and keep us from maximizing our potential.
Its purpose? To trap us in our comfort zones and keep us from taking risks.
The key? Acknowledge it exists, but don't give it the credibility it thinks it deserves.
Instead, we should ask ourselves:
What does my Gremlin tell me? (make a list)
In what ways is this holding me back? (make a list)
What might my life look like if I refused to listen to the Gremlin?
What step could I take today that challenges the Gremlin and moves me closer toward my dreams/goals?
Be Brilliant!
~Katie~
Other posts in this series:
Assumptions
Interpretations
Limiting Beliefs
