Self-Perceptions: How to Confront and Overcome Your Inner Gremlins: A Personal Guide

Self perceptions. Handle with care.

For many years, my research focused on how we perceive the world. You may be surprised to learn that even the simplest perceptions–say changes in the brightness of a light–differ from the actual changes in energy it is emitting. Just imagine what happens with things as complex as perceptions of ourselves.

My mom raised me alone and was disabled with a neurological disease (MS). I never developed skills in the ball sports and therefore perceived myself as unathletic. I dropped out of high school to help support us, missing high level math and languages and developing the belief that I was incapable of learning them. 

The past five decades of life has provided ample data that both of these self perceptions are illusory. Both have, however, inspired plenty of fear and self-doubt. Combating them has been a lifelong process, and for me competing in endurance events has been a key tool.

Let me explain. Somewhere deep inside my brain these beliefs lie dormant, ready to spring into action when I am at my most vulnerable. A long bike, run, or cross country ski race sets the table for these demons. Races provide me with the opportunity to practice vanquishing them. What I have learned is that this is a skill like any other, and we can get better with the right kind of training. 

I am reminded of this because yesterday I did a long hard bike race on rough gravel roads. It was cold, windy, dusty, and very hilly. As expected, in the darker moments my inner gremlins appeared to remind me that I am not an athlete and that I have no business being here. Rather than trying to hide, I welcomed them with open arms. “Come on in, I have been waiting for you!” A smile, a laugh, and poof! Away they went.

Do you have gremlins that are limiting you? What have you found effective in vanquishing them? I would love to hear.