When trying on clothes, how often do you ask, “does this make me look fat?”  What does your inner voice tell you?  Mine usually screams, “YES!!”  Often times, we have a little inside voice that starts yelling at us and stops us dead in our tracks when we’re trying to change for the better.  This is what’s called your “inner critic.”  It is a skeptic and saboteur of your life.  Regardless of what you name it, this inner critic (or Gremlin) remains an inner voice that can make us feel so badly about ourselves that it keeps us from growing and learning so as to lead the abundant life we desire.

What do you do when there's a song playing on the radio that you don't like?  Do you quickly change the station to one that is more appealing without even thinking?  What would your life be like if you used that same technique when the self-talk in your head starts playing negative loud chatter?  With the same automatic response, just change the station, or better yet, turn it off altogether.

How often does your Gremlin hold you back from feeling good about yourself?  Does it make you afraid to take risks?  Does it prevent you from thinking big?  If you’re nodding your head in agreement, are you willing to do something about it?

Now is the time to realize you have the Power in Choice. You can choose to listen to the Gremlin, believe it and stay stuck. Or, with a little bit of effort, try something different that will help quiet the negative self-talk. You can coach yourself and take some concrete action steps to begin to tame your Gremlin. 

Try these three easy steps:

1. Identify what the Gremlin is exactly saying to you. 
2. Acknowledge how the negative message has served you in the past.  Ask yourself if it is carrying over to the present.  Become aware of how the message is serving you today.
3. Replace the negative message with a positive one that allows you to move forward with your life.  You’ve identified and acknowledged your Gremlin so now you can begin to focus on reality versus what the Gremlin wants you to think.