Facing Your Gremlin In A Season of Uncertainty

I think it goes without saying that we are in a season of uncertainty as the world has changed quite literally overnight with the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Many of us are scared -- we’re taking on new roles, facing a possible loss of income, trying to keep ourselves and our families healthy, and processing an enormous amount of media, news, texts and calls from friends, and of course, our own emotions through all of it.

Just before this all started, an exciting career opportunity came my way, and I wanted to share it because it illustrates just how a season of growth and opportunity can come from a time of confusion and uncertainty. I want to inspire you to think about how you can take the cards you’ve been dealt and not only find the silver lining but come up with a plan to prosper despite the challenges.

I have partnered with a company called BetterUp to expand and grow as a coach. BetterUp combines coaching, micro-learning, and behavioral science to take corporate employees’ growth to the next level. In this new role, I’m able to coach more, with greater diversity and in a broader industry pool. I launched my private practice last April, and I’ve learned a lot about what I’m capable of, what lights me up, and how I want to spend my energy. I will continue to build my private practice as I grow in the new role.

It hasn’t all been spring tulips and dew drops! I’ve had to deal with my inner critic voice that pops up the moment I step into something new. You know, that little or sometimes loud voice that says, “You’re not qualified,” or, “You’re not smart enough,” or my absolute favorite, “You can’t handle more.” For a long time, these messages kept me in my comfort zone, safe, and snuggly watching the bad weather from inside. I know I’m a powerful coach who brings 16+ years of experience coaching individuals and teams to their highest potential, so this wasn’t a question of confidence, but rather I felt the winter wind was calling me for something bigger and out of my comfort zone again. Ok, I promise that’s my last weather metaphor!

The inner critic voice or gremlin, as it can sometimes be called, is something that we all have. Yes, everyone has one. This voice begins as a message that we tell ourselves to stay safe and avoid embarrassment around the age of five or six. However, that voice remains with us as we mature, and then we unknowingly give it all sorts of power and meaning. It morphs throughout our life, gets louder at times, but it’s always there waiting for you to step outside of your comfort zone. Some people listen intently to their inner critic and consequently play small, while others have learned to acknowledge it, change it to an empowering message, and move around it. I’ve done both, and I chose the latter version this time. 

Experts estimate that the mind thinks between 60,00 - 80,000 thoughts a day. That’s an average of 2,500 - 3,300 thoughts per hour. How many of your thoughts are empowering, and how many tear you down little by little? If your inner critic is loud, know that it’s normal and when you are ready to change the narrative that you absolutely can. The first step is to become conscious of the message when it comes and how it feels. One exercise that I often suggest with clients who are held back due to their gremlin message is to start a judgment journal and write down all the mean, hurtful, and probably untrue things your inner critic may say. I like to think about this process as collecting data. The more you acknowledge and look your gremlin in its eyes, the weaker the message becomes. 

For me, it was time to push past my comfort zone, acknowledge my inner critic, and decide that it’s ok to be uncomfortable again. As I begin my new roles as a corporate leadership coach with BetterUp, it reminds me that there comes a time when we are each willing to play the “game of life” bigger. When you are ready to stare your gremlin in the face, I’m here for you. My job as a coach is to listen to what you want to change in your life, ask powerful questions to help to uncover what’s keeping you stuck and partner with you while you decide actions to take. We are living in a new season of uncertainty, but I see an opportunity to reflect and grow within. Micro-actions create clarity in both your personal and professional life. You deserve to be happy, healthy, and fulfilled.

Xo,

Tracy 

P.S. Wash your hands, love your people, and take opportunities to de-stress daily.

If you found this article helpful, check out a related blog titled, “Stop, Drop and Reflect.”