Uncovering Your Gremlins and Limiting Beliefs

By Les Wright Jr.

If you’ve ever seen the 1984 classic Gremlins, you’ll remember how a cute, fuzzy creature named Gizmo could become wild and destructive if you fed it after midnight or got it wet. Those adorable little mogwais quickly morphed into chaos-causing gremlins that turned a quiet town into a nightmare.

Now think of your mind as that quiet town. Those “harmless” thoughts—like I’m not ready, I’m not good enough, or I should never mess up—can turn into full-blown gremlins when ignored. They multiply, sabotage your confidence, and cause mental chaos faster than you can say, “Don’t feed them after midnight!”

Meet Your Inner Gremlin

Your inner gremlin isn’t hiding under your bed; it’s hanging out in your head. It takes the form of critical self-talk, old fears, and unrealistic expectations.

Ask yourself the following:

• What does your gremlin tell you?

• What does it look like? (Give it a face—it’s less scary that way!)

• Is that really you talking, or your gremlin?

  
  

Maybe your gremlin whispers, “I must always be strong” or “I should never ask for help.” Jot these down—naming them weakens their spell. Like in the movie, these gremlins love showing up when the lights are low—when you’re tired, stressed, or stepping out of your comfort zone. That’s when they perch on your shoulder and hiss, “Who do you think you are?”

Spotting Limiting Beliefs

Limiting beliefs are the invisible cobwebs of your mind. They trap your potential and convince you that you can’t. To uncover them, ask the following:

• Where do my thoughts get in the way?

• Where am I too hard on myself?

• What rules am I living by that no longer serve me? (“I should never fail.” “I must never disappoint anyone.”)

  
  

Your body often knows before your brain does—tight shoulders, a heavy chest, a sinking stomach. That’s your intuition waving a flashlight, saying, “Hey, there’s a gremlin here!”

Challenge Those Gremlins

Now grab your metaphorical flashlight—it’s time to face them. Ask yourself the following:

• Who says that’s true?

• What proof do I really have?

• Has there ever been a time when that wasn’t true?

  
  

When your gremlin sneers, “You can’t do that,” respond with a grin and say, “Maybe not . . . but what if I could?”

The goal isn’t to destroy your gremlin (getting them wet only makes more!). It’s to understand and outsmart them—to take back control of your story.

Do Halloween Homework

This spooky season, make a “Gremlin List.” Name your inner mischief-makers, doodle them, or picture them dancing under a flickering jack-o’-lantern. Then ask the following:

• Who says?

• According to whom?

• Is that true?

• Who would I be without that thought?

  
  

When you separate yourself from your gremlins, you’ll discover they were never that frightening—just misunderstood and overfed.

Final Thought

We all have gremlins, but remember the first rule: don’t feed them after midnight. Instead, starve them with truth, self-compassion, and a good laugh.

Because in the end, the only real monster in your story is the one you let live rent-free in your mind—and this Halloween, it’s time to hand it an eviction notice.