Page 145 - Taming Your Gremlin A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way (Rick Carson)_Neat

process in which a trained practitioner physically softens and smooths out
the connective tissue formed around the body’s muscles. During the rolfing
session I noticed myself tensing as the rolfer was working very deeply on

my abdominal muscles. I feared being hurt. By the same token, I knew that
the deeper I could allow the rolfer to work, the more I would benefit from
the session. I began to notice my tendency to tense my body in anticipation
of pain—rather than in response to the pain itself. I was tensing in an effort
to somehow defend myself against pain. This sort of tense preparedness is
almost valueless. It is your gremlin that creates the illusion that tensing in
anticipation of pain is helpful. Again, the reality is that you can best handle

most situations, no matter how complex, if you are relaxed, alert, and
centered.

When we are in a state of relaxed concentration, our bodies are more
likely to move in fine accordance to the demands made upon them. As I
relaxed more, the rolfer was able to work deeper and deeper. When I
actually felt pain my body tensed very naturally, but not until the pain
actually occurred. My pain and tension were diminished by the end of the

session. I enjoyed myself and I benefited a great deal.

Your gremlin wants you to believe that tensing against emotional pain
before it occurs will minimize the discomfort. Actually, this does nothing
but initiate the discomfort or pain. Pain is no more than tension, so when
you tense in anticipation of pain, all you are really doing is beginning the
pain early and/or prolonging it. In interpersonal relationships, this sort of
defensiveness tends to create and exacerbate unpleasantness and limit the
possibility of intimacy. I suppose this dynamic was at play with Sally, me,

and my neck.

THE “HEM AND HAW” STRATEGY

When you are bursting to say something but are afraid of the consequences
of doing so, your gremlin may encourage you to hem and haw. I have had
clients whose gremlins have scared them into developing highly
sophisticated hem and haw techniques as a way of avoiding the excitement
of raw human contact.