How to Quiet the Gremlin in Your Mind

Each of us has a voice in our heads. Sometimes it’s a gentle whisper, bringing forth creative ideas and encouraging us to pursue our dreams.

Mine has become louder and more active again.

All because life has taken a wild turn.

I have never really gotten over the pandemic. I still stay most of my days at home. I used to find joy in my writing, but it hasn’t been that great for months.

I know I would get past this phase, I always have but I’m tired or that is what the voice in my head is telling me.

It’s an incessant chatter, the one that interrupts our focus, fostering doubt, and instilling fear. This is the voice of the Gremlin, our inner critic.

And I have to confront it once again.

Understanding the Gremlin in Your Mind

The Gremlin is a product of our minds, an embodiment of our fears and insecurities. It feeds on our doubts and thrives on our anxieties. Often, it prevents us from taking risks, hindering our growth and potential.

You’ve all heard that vicious voice in your head that tells you, “You’re not good enough,” or “You’re not smart enough.” This voice is what I call “the gremlin”.

The gremlin is a wicked force and some of you may find it to be so strong that it can ruin fun moments and prevent you from experiencing joyful ones.

The good news is that you can interrupt your gremlin. Watch this week’s video as I share three practical steps that will help you to silence that negative voice, so that you can feel really good about yourself! — Ritu Bhasin

It is a master of disguise.

The endless negative dialogues that appear as rational thoughts lead us to believe that the voice is our real voice.

Before we can quiet the voice, we need to listen to it. But not to be overwhelmed by it.

Not everything it says harms you, there is some truth in it. But there is so much fear in what it says.

Lately, I have been exploring YouTube, I have never been fond of watching clips, I always thought it was a waste of time.

But to even make it on another platform, I am trying to understand what works and I have to admit it is overwhelming.

And that is where the gremlin voice comes in, telling me that it is too late or that I don’t have the skills to become a successful YouTuber or if that is what I want or do I want to do it to supplement my income from writing.

The gremlin voice never stops.

Quieting your mind is crucial for mental well-being and overall productivity.

A quiet mind is a calm mind, devoid of unnecessary distractions. It is a fertile ground for creativity, clarity, and peace.

By learning how to quiet your mind, you can silence the Gremlin and free yourself from the shackles of self-doubt and negativity.

Identifying the Gremlin

Recognizing the negative thought pattern is one of the first steps in dealing with our inner critic.

But first, we need to acknowledge its presence.

That there is that voice in our heads.

The Gremlin often manifests itself through negative thought patterns. These could be feelings of unworthiness, constant worry, or an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety.

Recognizing these patterns is the first step towards taming your Gremlin.

Understanding Triggers

Triggers are situations or events that cause the Gremlin to rear its ugly head.

These triggers can be anything from a stressful work situation to a personal conflict.

Understanding your triggers can help you anticipate and prepare for the Gremlin’s attacks, thereby reducing its power over you.

Noticing Physical and Emotional Reactions

Our bodies often respond to our thoughts.

If your heart races or your stomach churns at the thought of a particular situation, your Gremlin may be at play.

By noticing these physical and emotional reactions, you can further identify when your Gremlin is active.

Challenging the Gremlin

But even when the voice gets louder, it doesn’t mean it must win.

When you catch yourself in a negative thought loop, stop and question those thoughts.

Are they factual? Or are they just manifestations of your Gremlin? Questioning your thoughts helps you distinguish between genuine concerns and the baseless fears propagated by your Gremlin.

Examining Evidence

Sometimes, our Gremlin convinces us of things that aren’t true.

With my YouTube experiment, while the growth is slow, there is some good news happening.

I have one YouTube shorts that had gotten over 15,000 not a lot in terms of what other YouTubers are experiencing, but it is a start.

I have to focus on that one video to make me more excited to do more.

Success on any platform doesn’t come overnight.

So, while I need to learn a lot, I need to acknowledge my strengths.

For instance, it might make us believe that we’re not good enough or that we’re bound to fail.

I can change the narrative to I am good enough to produce a good video. And what is good enough anyway? To which standard should we be judged?

It’s essential to examine the evidence. Have you always failed in the past? Or have you had your share of successes too? Rational thinking can often expose the lies of the Gremlin.

Techniques to Quiet the Gremlin

1. Practicing Positive Affirmations — Positive affirmations are powerful tools against the Gremlin. They are positive statements that help you challenge and overcome your Gremlin’s negative messages. Regularly practicing positive affirmations can help you create a more positive self-image and weaken the influence of your Gremlin.
2. Breathing Exercises — Breathing exercises are proven methods to calm the mind and reduce stress and anxiety. By focusing on your breath, you can steer your attention away from the Gremlin’s chatter, thereby silencing it.
3. Meditation and Mindfulness — Meditation and mindfulness are powerful practices that can help you tame your Gremlin. They involve focusing on the present moment and accepting it without judgment.
4. Visualization Techniques — Visualization is a potent tool to counter your Gremlin. Visualizing your Gremlin as a separate entity can help you distance yourself from it.
5. Creating a Supportive Environment — Your environment plays a significant role in shaping your thoughts and emotions. Surround yourself with positive influences — people who inspire you, environments that energize you, and activities that uplift you.

Final words

When I first started writing, all I wanted was to write a good story. Money was second until it became the primary reason.

My inner critic tried to shame me when my stories became viral. I would even listen to it, and I have to admit that it silenced me.

I am back to zero but while my Gremlin thinks I won’t win this time, I always have and I know I would bounce back stronger.

I first told myself I would make $10,000 from writing, and while it took three years, it happened.

Now I would write here that I would make my first $10,000 from YouTube in 90 days.

Who will win in the end is it me or the Gremlin voice?

Thank you for reading.

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This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.

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