Page 147 - Taming Your Gremlin A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way (Rick Carson)_Neat

But that’s the way it is with gremlins. They sneak up on us when we
least expect them to and suddenly and secretly trap us into behaviors which,
when objectively witnessed, are downright embarrassing.

We, of course, don’t know what we don’t know. When we are hemming

and hawing our gremlin has convinced us to let slide our all-important tools
of:

Simply Noticing

Choosing and Playing with Options

Being in Process

Fortunately for us, when we see our gremlin in action we can tame him
on the spot.

To be free of the hem and haw strategy, we need only become aware of

our wants, our thoughts, and our emotions, and describe them clearly and
concisely. A simple sentence is far more powerful than an elaborate analogy
or explanation when it comes to making yourself understood and putting
your gremlin in his place. If you truly do want to hide yourself rather than
express yourself, that is fine. Simply make the choice to do so instead of
hemming and hawing.

When you hem and haw or peek and hide, as some of my clients have
called it, you risk looking foolish. That’s probably not what you want, but it

is probably what your gremlin wants. Remember, when you are feeling one
thing and expressing another, you are being phony. While it is a tough pill
to swallow, you and I are just as transparent as everybody else. And
phoniness stands out like a sore thumb.

If you want to say something but you are feeling afraid or cautious,
mentally acknowledge the consequence you fear and consider stating it (the
consequence) aloud. Often, this level of intense honesty will shock your