A few years ago, one of my friends suggested me to read “The power of subconscious mind“ by Joseph Murphy. Until I read this book, I had no idea how powerful our subconscious mind is and how it affects our lives.
Joseph Murphy believes that the outside world is a reflection of what’s going inside us. Your thoughts and expectations will ultimately take place in the external world.
Did you know that the subconscious mind does not go to sleep when the conscious part does? We bring you some interesting facts about our subconscious mind, which you probably aren’t aware of!
The 3-Level Model
The famous Austrian Psychologist Sigmund Freud extensively studied and developed a model, which he described in 3 levels:
Conscious – The first level.
This defines our thoughts and feeling within our awareness. For example, beauty and the smell of flowers.
Subconscious – Second level.
Defines reactions and autopilot actions. For example, this is as simple as opening a doorknob. Probably, learnt during your childhood, we stop thinking about how to open and end up doing it automatically.
Unconscious – Third Level.
Defines all past memories and events, but which are somewhat inaccessible to us. For example, the first word that we learned to say or the time when we first stood on our own.
What is a conscious mind and a subconscious mind?
Conscious mind consists of what we are aware of at any given point of time. It comprises of things that we are talking right now, at this moment.
In psychology, the subconscious is a part of the mind that is not currently in focal awareness. In simple words, the subconscious mind is a data bank for your conscious mind. It stores your memories, previous experiences, fears, beliefs etc.
Facts probably you didn’t know about the subconscious mind
1. It is more powerful than we think
It is said that our subconscious mind is 30000 times powerful than our conscious mind. After all, it makes up around 95% of your brainpower.
The subconscious mind is the autopilot that works in the background. It controls and handles everything from eating to breathing to digesting to making memories.
For example, you don’t consciously choose to digest your food. It is your subconscious mind that works in the background for you.
2. It stores and retrieves data
This is one of the functions of your subconscious mind. It permanently stores everything that has ever happened to you. All your habits of thinking and acting are stored in here.
Think of your subconscious mind as file cabinet of all your memories. It is our memory part and this part remembers everything!
For example, think of driving to work through the same route everyday. After a few days or weeks of driving, you will drive through that route without thinking- you are on autopilot. Your subconscious mind remembers the route.
3. It loves to follow the same pattern
Let’s take the same example of driving. The subconscious mind follows a set pattern and gets habitual. If you repeat the same things again and again, it will be stored in your memory by your subconscious mind. Every day we follow a particular pattern for a reason.
Looking at this optimistically, if we follow a positive pattern every day, we can control our outlook in the long run.
4. It loves the comfort zone
All your habits and patterns are stored in the subconscious mind. It has memorized all your comfort zones.
For example, your subconscious mind causes you to feel emotionally and physically uncomfortable whenever you attempt to do something into an unknown space. It will try to pull you back.
This is when you need to step out of your comfort zone. Try to grow out of it even though it is uncomforting and less easy. Keep trying until you develop a new comfort zone.
One of the major habits of successful people is to always keep stretching themselves out of their comfort zones.
5. It is subjective
The subconscious mind can’t think alone, reason alone or work independently. It needs some instructions may be in the form of direct orders or yearning or strong desires to fulfil something. It is like your house whose key is with you. This is why probably harnessing your power of positivity is vital to the entire thought process.
Always remember that subconscious mind obeys everything that your conscious mind commands. Thus, giving the right orders (thoughts and visual imaginations) to your subconscious mind will benefit you in the long run.
6. It takes everything literally
As strange as it may sound, but the subconscious mind does not differentiate between positive and negative.
It has a habit of taking everything literally. This probably explains why a movie, which we know is “not real”, nevertheless produces such strong emotions!
Moreover, doesn’t horror movies make us jump in our seats? What you see is what you get when it comes to the subconscious mind.
7. It likes to be left alone
Your subconscious mind works the best when you’re not alert, like when you are sleeping. Have you noticed how most of our “aha” ideas and solutions to our problems come when you are taking a shower, go for your walk or a run?
Research shows that you’re more likely to create epiphany when your mind is not alert or is doing something monotonous like exercising or showering. As these regular routines do not require much thought, you switch to autopilot, and thereby; your subconscious mind starts to wander around, leaving your conscious mind to a quiet place.
8. It understands the power of repeated words. Repetition is key.
Earl Nightingale, American Author said, “Whatever we plant in our subconscious mind and nourish with repetition and emotion will one day become a reality”
What you repeat in your mind can affect your life. The subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between what’s flamboyantly imagined and what’s real.
If you wish to re-program your subconscious mind positively, then repeating the new thoughts and actions throughout the day is key. It is as simple as convincing yourself that you can do it! Repeating your beliefs through affirmations helps to program your subconscious mind.
Conclusion
Your subconscious mind is the most powerful part of your entire existence. If you can learn to harness its power wisely, you will see the change that it brings you into your life!
It is needless to say that programming or training your subconscious mind takes time, practice and persistence. Once you start, appreciate each stage that you go through to unleash the power of your subconscious mind.
As Joseph Murphy says “The subconscious mind is ruled by suggestion, it accepts all suggestions – it does not argue with you – it fulfils your wishes.”
Next Read: “How to calm your noisy mind? – 6 Simple ways”
Beautifully written with simple words ….
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Thank you for reading and appreciating!