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The Power of the Subconscious Mind

  • Writer: Patricia Faust
    Patricia Faust
  • Jun 1, 2023
  • 6 min read


“Change your thoughts and Change your life”. This is a very popular quote and one that I believe in. To those who don’t understand this process, it can create a few questions:

“What does that even mean?”

“How does that work?”

“Why isn’t it working for me?”

There are many more questions and some flat-out disbelievers. That’s okay but there is evidence of how and why this works. There are also reasons why it might not be working,

In order to understand this process, you need to understand the power of the subconscious mind.


What is the subconscious mind and how does it relate to the conscious mind? Some clarification is due here on what these different parts of the brain are.

The conscious mind houses all of the thoughts and actions that we are aware of. It is that voice in your head that you think is making all of your decisions.

The subconscious mind on the other hand is where our memories are stored, our habits exist, and our actions that are on autopilot are held. Everything in the subconscious mind is below our level of awareness


Here are some facts comparing the conscious mind and the subconscious mind:



Conscious Mind Subconscious Mind

Comprises 17% of Brain Mass Is 83% of Your Brain Mass

Looks for Patterns and Objects Averages 400 Billion Operations

that are Familiar per Second

Is Where Your Free Will LivesIs Non-Verbal (sees in pictures and patterns)

Is Under Your Control. Doesn’t Know Truth from Fiction Determines Your Results Directs Sensory Input

Is Re-Trainable

Conscious Impulses Travel Unconscious Impulses Travel 100,000 mph

at Speeds Up to 140 mph


NeuroGym/John Assaraf

The human brain is the fastest processor in the universe.


I imagine you are in awe at the capabilities of the subconscious mind but are wondering – what does it do for me? Our moods, personality development, and personal and professional development are all shaped by our subconscious mind. One of its duties is to store and process all the pieces of information that are in our minds even though we are not aware of them. Your subconscious makes sure that you respond exactly the way you are programmed. It does not have the power to think or reason independently. It obeys the commands it receives from your conscious mind. So, it ultimately works day and night to make your behavior fit a pattern consistent with your emotional thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Brian Tracy uses the analogy of the garden and the gardener to explain the conscious and subconscious: “Just as your conscious mind can be thought of as the gardener, planting seeds, your subconscious mind can be thought of as the garden, or fertile soil, in which the seeds germinate and grow.”


Your subconscious mind will act on any request you make. Remember – it obeys the conscious mind. Any thought that is continuously repeated will make an imprint on the subconscious. The practice of visualization, affirmations, and guided imagery are so effective because the subconscious mind does not distinguish between what is real and what is imaginary. Repetition creates images that the subconscious acts upon.


So, the subconscious does not think by itself. It obeys the commands that the conscious mind sends to it. Then how can you actually affect the subconscious mind?


Here are eight techniques to affect the subconscious mind:


· Paying Attention to your thoughts

o What you think about most will influence your subconscious mind.

o If you believe and think you don’t deserve something – your subconscious mind will make sure that you don’t get what you want.

o When we release our negativity and fear, we become more comfortable being positive and allow our subconscious to work for us.


· Prayer

o Prayer repeats what you want to adopt in your conscious mind and helps the subconscious mind recognize it as important.

o It gives you faith that what you are praying for is coming and that faith solidifies what you want in the subconscious.


· Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)

o NLP is a communication system for your subconscious. There are different techniques and you must have knowledge of how these techniques work in order to use NLP properly.


· Being Consistent and Repetitive

o Use this tool when you want to establish a new habit.

o The more you do or say something, the more your subconscious mind will adopt and accept it.

o What fires together, wires together. You rewire your brain with consistency and

repetition.


· Hypnosis

o Hypnosis helps you quiet your conscious mind and open it to your subconscious mind.

· Subliminal Messages

o Your subconscious mind is always listening and looking for background words, images, or sounds that might interest you.

o You can use subliminal messages to your advantage and create positive affirmations that you want to remember – but don’t have time to repeat over and over.

· Meditation

o This helps you turn off your conscious mind

o During meditation you can focus on what you want and let your subconscious mind play around with ideas or images.


· Visualization

o Simply visualizing what you want to happen in your life can help your subconscious mind feel as if it is already happening.

o The subconscious mind does not distinguish between true or false, real or not real.

o If you visualize strongly enough and feel that you are already doing it – it can reshape your reality.

(8 Techniques to Affect the Subconscious Mind, December 15, 2015)


A Word about Affirmations:

Affirmations are statements that are repeated over and over to yourself. They work because when you continually verbalize these statements, they are influencing your thoughts. There are some guidelines for successfully using affirmations.

1. Always affirm in the positive. Make your affirmation a positive statement. Use words that reflect what you want to happen.

2. Make your affirmations short and simple. Use a phrase or at the maximum a short sentence. You should be able to repeat this over and over without even thinking about it.

3. Don’t force yourself to believe it – just say it. You just have to repeat and repeat over and over again and the affirmation will naturally have an effect.

Mind Power/John Kehoe


This practice is widely used. Athletes use them for performance; businesspeople use them to close deals and run their businesses; artists use them for creativity. What a simple, powerful way to change your brain and change your life.


Understanding Positive Thinking and Self-Talk

Positive thinking means you approach a problem in a positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst.


Positive thinking starts with self-talk. You have probably experienced this – it is the endless stream of thoughts going through your mind all day. You can’t seem to turn it off. This can be positive or negative. Some self-talk comes from logic or reasoning. Other self-talk comes from misconceptions that we create because we don’t have all of the information we need.


What Makes an Effective Affirmation?

Here is some more detailed information on creating affirmations.

· When deciding what affirmations you need, focus in on where you have the most negative self-talk, and then choose affirmations that battle those issues.


· Choose affirmations that are short, so they are easier to remember. Four – five words can be effective.


· Affirm your positive statements in the present tense. Use phrases such as ‘I Am’ rather than ‘I shall be’.


· Get in the habit of repeating the affirmation whenever you are not engaged in other activities. Mentally repeat your affirmations or say them out loud when you are driving or standing in line.


· It is very important to attach your emotions to that affirmation. Feel good.


· Use only positive words. No negatives!


· Write your affirmations and put them in places that will catch your attention during the day. When you regularly see them, it will be a constant reminder to continue with the practice.

(www.wholesomeayurveda.com March 10, 2017)


Now that you understand how powerful your subconscious is; and, how you can access it – you really can Change Your Thoughts and Change Your Life.


References:


Assaraf, J. 12 amazing facts about your brain. Retrieved from http://blog.myneurogym.com/12-amazing-facts-about-your-brain/#.VmoReoTUGRs

Effect of Daily Affirmations (Positive Thoughts) on Subconscious Mind, Health, and Happiness. (March 10, 2017). Retrieved from http://www.wholesomeayurveda.com/2017/03/10/effect-daily-affirmations-positive-words-subconscious-mind/


Kehoe, J. Quantum physics positive mind energy and mind power. Retrieved from http://www.learnmindpower.com/using_mindpower/basics/


Mercury. (December 15, 2015). 8 techniques to affect the subconscious mind. Retrieved from http://www.ilanelanzen.com/mind/8-techniques-to-afect-the-subconscious-mind/


Operation-Meditation. How does the subconscious mind work – amazing facts and exciting insights. Retrieved from http://operationmeditation.com/discover/how-does-the-subconscious-mind-work-amazing-facts-and-exciting-insights/


Tracy, B. Understanding the subconscious mind. Retrieved from http://briantracy.com/blog/general/understanding-your-subconscious-mind/




 
 
 

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March was an unusual month for me.  Normally I work on articles, give presentations and generally just stay tuned to what is going on in the field of aging.  This month I “learned” a lot.  Last year I learned how to write a book.  At the time I took the course I thought it would just be a natural extension of all the writing I had done over the years.  WRONG!!  The actual writing of the book was the easy part.  Putting it together into a book was difficult for me.  The course gave me step by step lessons on constructing a book.  Then editing and formatting were just as challenging.  On June 7 last year the book was published!  It was one of the most satisfying days of my writing career. 

Naturally, when you self-publish, you do not have a publisher promoting the book and getting it in the right categories for best sales on Amazon.  That was crushing because I really didn’t know to appropriately market it.  I am a brain health person!  In December of last year, I purchased a marketing program that is based on statistics.  I am technical minded and so this approach made sense to me.  The course is almost completed.  Can’t wait to see if it improves sales!

The next step I am looking at is recording an audiobook.  This is another venture I knew nothing about.  But I am already tagged on Facebook for marketing of audio book programs.  Facebook picks up everything.  Now my husband was creative director for an advertising agency and when I told him I purchased another class – he couldn’t believe it.  “This was my business.  I know how to do recordings, why didn’t you ask me?” Well, I knew he was an expert in that business, but this audiobook needs to meet all the criteria that Amazon requires for publication.  So, he can take care of the recording part of this audiobook, and I will navigate the process of meeting Amazon’s requirements.  We worked on the book together like this. 

Then I talked with some coaching experts on the viability of starting group teaching programs.  Reading The Boomer Brain book and implementing the Brain Healthy Lifestyle have two entirely different outcomes.  This lifestyle is important to maintaining high cognitive function throughout the later years of our lives.  Look for updates as to when I will roll this program out.

My last learning endeavor was attending a two-day bootcamp for Speakers.  I am really excited about what I learned there.  That is a late this year or next year project, but it is one I am really looking forward to.

 

What Is Happening in April?

The American Society on Aging is having their annual conference in Orlando Florida April 21-24.  This is the largest multidisciplinary conference on aging and the annual conference for Members of ASA.  I have attended a number of these conferences throughout the years, and it is consequential.  Keynote speakers and special events are focused on combating ageism in our society.  Although this is a professional meeting, the attendees come from all aspects of aging services.  They have their work cut out for them this year!

April is Stress Awareness Month.  We should be aware of stress every month and understand how we can break the stress cycle.  These are stressful times, and we need to protect ourselves

Here is a positive one “April is National Volunteer Month”.  When I am working with new retirees who don’t know what to do, I talk to them about volunteering. It is important to have a purpose after you leave the workforce.  There are so many nonprofits who need help in all aspects of their organizations.  It is a perfect way to give back.

Finally – It was Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds – the oldest major league team in the nation.  Cincinnati takes that responsibility seriously.  There is always an Opening Day Parade through downtown to the Ball Park.  Huge crowds line the streets and every year there is talk of making it an official holiday.  Schools and employers look the other way when there is an empty desk.  No matter what the outcome of the game is, there is so much joy, and you can feel that energy.  I am fortunate that I get to experience that.  We all need some joy right now. 

Enjoy your April.

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