Author: rchen168

You know that little voice in your head that whispers,

“You’re not good enough.”
“People like you don’t succeed.”
“Why even try?”

That voice? It’s not just your Chimp acting up.
It’s often powered by something sneakier:
Gremlins and Goblins.

No, we haven’t switched to a Harry Potter blog.
Gremlins and Goblins are real—just not the kind hiding under your bed.
They’re hiding in your mind.

🧠 What Are Gremlins and Goblins?

According to The Chimp Paradox, these are the beliefs and behaviors that live in your brain’s “Computer” system.

🦠 Gremlins

These are false beliefs you’ve picked up somewhere along the way—maybe from childhood, past trauma, or failure. They often sound like:

• “I’m not lovable.”
• “I’ll never be enough.”
• “People will always leave.”

They’re not true—but they feel true because they’ve been repeated in your mind so often, your Chimp treats them like gospel.

🧠 Goblins

These are even deeper, more ingrained beliefs—usually formed early in life or through repeated emotional experiences. They’re harder to spot but have major influence.

Think of them like operating systems running in the background. You don’t always see them, but they control the way you respond to life.

🧍‍♂️ My Personal Gremlins

I’ll be honest—being blind, I’ve wrestled with more than a few Gremlins.

Things like:

“I’m a burden.”
“People only help me because they feel sorry for me.”
“Success is for people who can see the path.”

These beliefs weren’t facts—they were fears, born out of moments where my Chimp felt unsafe or rejected. And the more I fed them, the louder they became.

But here’s what I’ve learned:
Just because you’ve believed something for years doesn’t make it true.
It makes it familiar. And familiarity isn’t the same as truth.

🔍 How to Unmask Your Gremlins

1. Name Them

Write down those painful inner thoughts. If it feels heavy or sharp, chances are—it’s a Gremlin.

2. Question Them

Ask: “Where did I learn this?”
“Is this absolutely true?”
“Would I say this to someone I love?”

3. Replace Them

Once you identify a toxic belief, rewrite it.
Instead of: “I’m not enough,” try: “I’m learning and growing, and that’s more than enough.”

4. Repeat the Truth

Repetition is how your Computer got programmed in the first place. Repeating healthy, true beliefs creates new pathways that your Chimp will eventually trust.

🧘🏽 Reprogramming Takes Time

Here’s the thing: your Gremlins didn’t show up overnight, and they won’t leave overnight either. But with awareness, consistency, and compassion—you can shift your mental programming.

And when you do, your Chimp has less reason to panic.
Because now your Computer is feeding it strength—not fear.

By now, we’ve met your Chimp, seen it panic, and watched it argue with your rational self (aka the Human). But here’s the big question:

What do you actually do with the Chimp?

You can’t ignore it.
You can’t cage it.
And trust me—you can’t out-logic it into silence.

Because the Chimp is fast. Emotional. Protective. And it’s not going anywhere.

But here’s the good news:
You don’t have to fight it.
You just need to learn how to train it—and start building a better inner team.

🧠 Why You Need Your Chimp

Let’s clear this up: the Chimp isn’t your enemy.

It’s the part of your brain that gives you passion, energy, and instinct. It’s the spark that gets you fired up, keeps you safe, and sometimes—even helps you win.

The problem is, an untrained Chimp is like an untrained toddler with a drum set: loud, unpredictable, and slightly destructive.

But a trained Chimp? That’s where the magic happens. It becomes your ally, not your saboteur.

🧍‍♂️ Real Talk from My Journey

As someone who’s blind and navigating a world not built for people like me, my Chimp used to react a lot. It would get defensive, angry, anxious—sometimes all at once.

Whenever I walked into a room, shared my story, or took a risk, my Chimp would yell:

“You’re going to fail.”
“They’re judging you.”
“Stay small. Play it safe.”

But I’ve learned something powerful:
I don’t have to believe everything my Chimp says.
I just have to listen, understand, and then choose how I respond.

And that’s what building a better inner team is all about.

🛠 How to Work With Your Chimp, Not Against It

1. Acknowledge the Chimp Without Judgment

When the Chimp acts up, don’t suppress it. Say,

“Hey, I see you. I know you’re trying to help.”

This shifts your mindset from shame to understanding.

2. Create a Pause Between Trigger and Reaction

When something triggers you, take a breath. Literally. One slow, deep breath creates space for your Human to step in.

3. Give the Chimp a Role

Instead of shutting it down, redirect its energy. Let it fire you up for a speech. Let it fuel your passion—but under your leadership.

4. Feed the Computer Wisely

Your brain’s “Computer” (memory + habits) stores everything. The more often you practice calm, confident responses, the more the Chimp learns new behaviors.

🧘🏽 Your Inner Team in Harmony

This is the art:

• Your Chimp brings emotion.
• Your Human brings reason.
• Your Computer brings structure.

When all three work together, you’re unstoppable.
You stop reacting—and start responding. You stop doubting—and start leading.

If you’ve ever felt like two versions of you are arguing inside your own head, you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy.
That’s just your Human and your Chimp having a moment.

Picture this:

You get invited to speak at an event.

• Your Human says: “This is a great opportunity. Let’s do it!”
• Your Chimp chimes in: “Absolutely not. What if they laugh at you? What if you trip? What if you fail?”

And suddenly, what started as excitement turns into a mental tug-of-war.

Sound familiar?

🧠 Meet the Human vs. the Chimp

• The Human part of your brain is logical, calm, thoughtful.
• The Chimp is emotional, reactive, and impulsive.

They’re both you, but they speak different languages.

The Human wants progress.
The Chimp wants protection.

One says, “Let’s grow.”
The other says, “Let’s hide.”

Neither is “bad”—they’re just operating from very different playbooks.

🧍‍♂️ Living the Tug-of-War

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve personally felt this inner debate play out.

When I first started sharing my story—living with blindness, navigating self-doubt—I knew it mattered. I knew it could help people.
But every time I was about to post, speak, or show up… my Chimp freaked out.

“What if no one listens?”
“What if they just feel sorry for you?”
“You’re not ready for this.”

Meanwhile, my Human whispered, “But what if this helps someone who needs it?”

It’s a daily conversation—and I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from silencing the Chimp.
It comes from learning how to pause, listen, and lead.

🛠 What Should You Do When They Argue?

Here’s what I’ve found helpful when the Human and Chimp go head-to-head:

1. Recognize the Voice

When a thought feels reactive, emotional, or fear-driven—name it:

“That’s my Chimp talking.”

2. Let the Chimp Vent

The Chimp needs to be heard. Write it out. Say it aloud. Don’t shove it down. Give it space… then give it boundaries.

3. Engage the Human

Once the emotion passes, bring your Human to the table. Ask:

“What would my calm, confident self say here?”

4. Decide Who Leads

Both parts get a say—but only one should get the final word. Choose your Human. Every time you do, you build trust in yourself.

🧘🏽 Progress, Not Perfection

The goal isn’t to be perfectly calm or logical all the time. That’s not real life.

The goal is to know who’s speaking—and choose who leads.

If the Chimp runs the show, life becomes reactive, anxious, and unpredictable.
If the Human leads, you create space for peace, purpose, and progress.