Page 28 - Taming Your Gremlin A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way (Rick Carson)_Neat

felt even the slightest degree of anger, the Hulk leapt out of the shadows
and, with his powerful right arm, grabbed Peter by his collar and warned
him to “sit down and shut up.” Peter feared the Hulk so much that he almost

never allowed himself to show anger, or even appropriate assertiveness
(which he had confused with aggression). On the outside, Peter appeared a
nice, gentle sort of fellow. On the inside, he was tense and miserable.

The Big Shot

The last time I encountered my gremlin was about two minutes ago. A
big man, mid-60s, he looks wealthy and flashy—black suit, diamond pinky
ring, smoking a big cigar. His theme today is something like, “You’re a
nobody, kid.” He was pontificating with great confidence about how

HarperCollins would quickly relegate this book to the backlist and within a
week or two respond to my inquiries with a “Rick who? Gremlin what?” He
threw in some tidbits about age, a few “it’s now or never” scare tactics, and
something about starvation and complete worthlessness. When I brought
him into the light so I could simply notice him, he shrank and became a
whiny, pudgy, fat guy wearing a diaper.

I’m certainly no master of Gremlin-Taming, but I am a conscientious
student, and have been since I developed this process nearly 30 years ago.

One thing I can absolutely attest to is that the method not only works, it’s
progressive. In other words, as you practice, you’re going to get better and
better at using it under tougher and tougher circumstances and at applying it
easily and swiftly. Simply noticing is just the first tool in a three-tiered
process, but it is a powerful tool that you will steadily use more skillfully
through practice. The potential is literally boundless.

Each time you tame your gremlin on the spot, the natural you will come
out and take over. You will begin to learn experientially, not just
cognitively, the power of the Gremlin-Taming process and of the natural
you. As a result, you will develop a bone-deep self-trust and a confidence in
your Gremlin-Taming abilities.

Your gremlin is not going to give up trying to nail you. That’s his job.
But you’ll be so confident in your ability to tame him that even an all-out