Your Gremlin

Did you know that you have a Gremlin?  You do!  All of us have Gremlins.  A Gremlin is the voice inside you that is the running voice that tells you that you are not enough, you can’t do this or that, you’ll fail and any other negative messages.

When you are aware of your Gremlin and its purpose, you can work with it than against it.  You can use visualization to create your Gremlin as something separate and apart from you.  We tend to believe those negative messages are who we are but they aren’t.  They are old messages you received sometime in your past but are not true and don’t apply to who you are today.  A Gremlin takes all those messages, puts them in one place that is not a part of you.

You can become very imaginative with your Gremlin.  The next time you hear a negative message, you can actually have a debate with your Gremlin.  When you hear your Gremlin telling you that you aren’t enough and you will fail, talk back to it!  Ask your Gremlin (either out loud or inside your mind as a dialogue) just as you would someone that was actually saying those things to you.  Rather than accept these negative messages as the truth, challenge that line of thinking.  When you challenge your Gremlin, you’ll see for yourself that those negative messages really don’t hold up as true.

Gremlins can be especially pesky in weight loss surgery patients or anyone trying to lose weight.  When you doubt your ability to lose weight, keep it off and make changes in your lifestyle.  The negative messages your Gremlin screams at you can be “You’ll fail at this because you can’t do it,” recognize that it is only your Gremlin.  When you recognize these types of messages as your Gremlin rather than the gospel truth, you create a line of separation between yourself and what is true and the negative Gremlin.  It will be easier to blow off this silly Gremlin and anything it says to you.

Negative self-talk is the language of your Gremlin.  You can also view the voice of head hunger as your Gremlin.  When you are tempted by an unhealthy food choice, using the concept of a Gremlin allows you to overcome that Gremlin voice.  You are more than your emotional eating, head hunger, or self-talk, you are much more powerful than your Gremlin.  Just as you would a child having a temper tantrum or being a brat, speak to your Gremlin effectively but put it in its place with the negative behaviors and messages.  By doing this, it will empower you to respond in a more realistic way with positive self-talk and behaviors.

Your Gremlin can be this small elf, gnome, or monster type looking thing.  Whatever you’d like to visualize works.  An example is a little green, ugly character that has warts all over it, arms that reach to the floor and has a raspy, low mean sounding voice.  Be creative.  Some people draw their Gremlin and others visualize theirs.  Some people also name their Gremlin and talk to it when the negative chatter and temptations start talking to you.

I know it may sound silly but give it a try.  When faced with head hunger the next time and you find yourself searching for something in the kitchen, STOP and talk to your Gremlin about what your weight loss goals are and that you don’t choose to indulge in emotional overeating.  I’ve had many clients and coaching students I’ve taught that are amazed how this works when they give it a sincere try.

Put your Gremlin in its place so you can move fast forward to your weight loss and life’s goals.

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator, Bariatric University-Bariatric Coach/Instructor