Navigating Mental Barriers From Fog To Clarity

Hi there,

You know that we are all about navigating the whirlwind of change and self-discovery as part of our growth journey.

Let’s dive deeper into how we can become more adept at recognizing the messages and voices that pose mental barriers. Last week, we explored the messages from the Gremlins, which represent fears, insecurities, and self-doubt that protected us in our past but limit us in our present.

Today, we are exploring something many of us think are normal and rational messages, but in reality, they are more of an obstacle than anything else.

🧠 On My Mind:

Several times a day, I catch myself making assumptions or interpretations about things around me.

• “He didn’t reply to my coaching offer; it’s probably because I’m not offering enough value.”

• “The baby cries so much more with me than with my wife; I’m probably a terrible dad.”

• “No one interacted with my newsletter; it’s not working, and people hate it.”

• “I didn’t meet my half-year goals with my business; I’m incapable of meeting my objectives.”

• “I always text [any name]; probably, it’s because I’m a better friend.”

What do all these have in common?

They don’t see the fact for what it is—a fact. Instead, I’m constantly adding subjective thoughts and feelings to a fact, giving it a negative connotation.

🤯 The crazy thing is that the negative ones are so much more frequent than the positive ones.

🔍 The Why:

This is another wild guess or, in other words, an interpretation: Latinos love to judge, form conclusions, and feel that they know everything. Maybe it's a human thing, but I definitely feel more judged when I’m back home in Ecuador.

Assumptions and interpretations both involve making judgments and forming conclusions about something that happened. Although both are very similar, they differ in their nature.

Assumptions often come from preconceived notions, biases, or past experiences. They are mental shortcuts that help us make sense of our world without too much thinking.

Interpretations are more deliberate and analytical than assumptions; they require us to process information and draw conclusions based on what we perceive.

We focus on the negative because of our tendency towards negativity bias, and because our self-image is often clouded by insecurities and fears—AKA your Gremlin.

🕰️ When to Take Notice:

They are present at all times and feel natural, like a coherent thought, when in reality it’s just us trying to understand our present, explain our past, or predict our future.

I invite you to question everything, look for evidence, consider alternative explanations, notice if you have a negative bias, and, with constant work, you will be able to develop a more balanced and positive outlook.

Want to grow and change something that isn’t working for you?

Start with yourself, and everything else will follow.

🏆 Transformative Moment:

When you can differentiate what is objective from what is subjective. Here’s my gift: a worksheet that shares an example and some blank boxes for you to identify opportunities. Enjoy!

Assumptions:

Interpretations

Hit ‘Reply’ and share with me what you think about this exercise and let me know if you’d like the sample answer key.

♻️ Share this newsletter with someone who would benefit from it.

Keep Going, Keep Growing,

Your Coach and Friend,
Carlos