The unconscious mind is described to be a place that holds our deepest beliefs. For this reason I believe that understanding and consciously working to shape the subconscious mind can be a game-changer.
Today I’m going to describe the subconscious mind and how such practices will enable you to better understand yourself and the life you are currently living, as well as how to consciously create change. Before I begin, however I will need to briefly explain other layers described to exist in one’s mind.
1. THE CONSCIOUS MIND
2. THE EGO
3. THE UNCONSCIOUS MIND
4. AN ILLUSTRATION
5. THE BIG PICTURE
Photo by Hoang Loc
1. The conscious mind
This is the place where mental processes take place. This includes your conscious thoughts, judgment, and where you process things using logic and reasoning. It is also what you can recognize through your senses.
You may choose to close a window because the wind entering through it is too cold. On the other hand, you open the window because it is too hot inside the room you are in. Pretty logical, right?
Throughout our journeys we make conscious decisions, such as creating change or reshaping our physical surroundings. This might even include our personal appearance. But what are these conscious decisions engineered by? Let’s dive a little deeper.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska
2. The ego
I cannot begin to describe to the conscious and subconscious mind without acknowledging the comforting presence that is our own ego.
It is debated on where exactly the ego resides within our mind, some believing it operates on all levels of awareness. Others describe it to exist in a layer below the conscious mind.
There is much to be explained about the ego as evident in a large number of existing psychology articles. However, given my research and personal preference, I prefer to describe the ego as a mental facet, existing just below the surface of consciousness with two stands out functions:
SURVIVAL
One function of the ego is to keep us safe. The ego is constantly watching our backs to ensure our survival. This could mean survival in various aspects of our lives.
The ego can assist us in evade physical danger, such as a fast car coming down the street. There is not much thinking, simply quick reacting.
There can also a sense of survival to be found in social interactions where survival means getting our needs met. Perhaps we choose to dress up appropriately for an occasion so that we are accepted socially, thus meeting our social needs.
IDENTIFICATION
Ego is also the identity we have accepted as us. It is a collection of the parts of ourselves that we have consciously come to terms with as a result of our choices and life experience.
For example, someone’s ego may identify as a tall, Caucasian, twenty-something, male, English teacher abroad in Madrid who is a also dog owner. How someone identifies is what they are conscious of.
The Ego is like a friend that has good intentions. However, it may not benefit our deepest desires to only knowledge the Ego as our friend.
There is another friend that accompanies you, watching, listening, remembering the details, and saving them as special moments they hold dearly. This includes pleasant memories as well as those that scar us. This is my metaphor for the unconscious mind.
Photo by skinny alien
3. The unconscious mind
The unconscious mind is described to be the most profound part of our psyche. It is essentially the mind’s internal storage. This part of your mind is associated with your memories, emotions, habits, experiences, and beliefs to name a few. Every experience you have in life contributes towards a core belief within the unconscious mind.
Our “memory storage” can be shaped by our internal and external influences. This can refer to pressures placed on you by society or by loved ones and your past experiences such as heartbreak or winning a spelling b. Some may even argue the various subliminal found in everyday media also influence your deeply held beliefs.
Some believe that information is deeply kept here for it they are thoughts memories we rather repress rather than address.
One theory I want to highlight regarding this mental layer is that the subconscious mind is what you believe to be true about yourself and the world around you.
Your unconscious mind holds, contrary to your conscious mind and ego, what you actually believe about yourself, what you actually believe about the world around you.
Photo by Jeffrey Czum
4. An illustration
I am now going to describe my interpretation of the ego and unconscious mind at work through an example I have created.
I will be using my earlier description of the ego. I am referring to the tall, Caucasian, twenty-something, male, English teacher abroad in Madrid. I will call this individual Josh for simplicity.
Josh identifies as a confident individual who loves children and is good at his job as a foreign English teacher. He likes living in a foreign country, even if it means sharing an apartment with 8 other people and 2 bathrooms and living in a small, stuffy bedroom with a small window placed too high up for practical use.
Examining Josh with the principles I have earlier described, the foundation of this identity is Josh’s deeply held beliefs, reinforced by his past experiences.
ASPECT 1
Josh believes he is good at his job because the staff he works with continually tell him so and the kids he works with all seem to love him. Diving deeper, at Josh’s first job at age fifteen, he was called a dedicated worker with great potential by his boss.
Josh loved the feeling of positive reinforcement and this inspired him to work hard throughout the years, perfecting his craft each job he took. This allowed Josh to build his confidence at work.
His efforts even earned him several recommendations, all describing him as a great employee which serves to only validate this belief further. Josh truly believes he is good at the job he chooses. He is a great worker.
ASPECT 2
Conversely, Josh is fairly content, although not thrilled, with his living situation in Madrid. He imagined moving abroad to be adventurous and fun, much like his study abroad experience. As an English teacher, he would live in the city center with 1 or 2 people he could befriend, have a balcony where he would see all the action happening on the street. This is what Josh wanted.
Josh grew up in a working-class household, taking many jobs as he could to help his family remain stable. Since a child his mother told him it was always better to save money. She never bought lavish things, almost always the necessities.
When he moved to Madrid, he wanted his ideal living situation. And when the opportunity came along, he chose not what was his ideal but another, cheaper option. Although he had the money saved up to afford his desired living situation, his unconscious mind didn’t believe he could have it, that he deserved it.
What did it matter if his situation was a bit uncomfortable? That he couldn’t truly befriend his housemates because they also were money conscious and were either out working or avoiding the overwhelming company expected at home. At least he lived somewhere in the city center and for affordable rent!
And so, Josh remains in his 8-bedrooms, shared apartment with a tiny window that doesn’t allow him to see the city streets.
I just want to make it clear that the situation that fictional Josh finds himself in is perfectly fine. There is nothing wrong with his decision and the influences behind his decision.
I only seek to highlight that by understanding our individual programming, we can begin to shape our reality in the desired direction.
Photo by Wouter de Jong
5. The big picture
If you want to start changing your world today, to begin adventuring towards a life of greater satisfaction, decide today to get your subconscious mind on board.
Stop befriending only your conscious mind, and start inviting your subconscious to the party. Befriend all aspects of yourself, cultivating a harmonious friendship between the two. The more party guests the more fun can be had.
Start winning! Work smarter towards your goals by discovering your limiting beliefs held in your subconscious mind. Then, seek to change them.
There are many methods and exercises you can do starting today to make changes in your mental imprint. While I will write about some of these techniques on my blog. I encourage you to pursue your own research from a book or on the web, for you can only begin master the subconscious mind by seeking to understand it.
Begin your adventure into the subconscious.
References:
Shumsky, Susan G. Miracle Prayer: Nine Steps to Creating Prayers That Get Results. Celestial Arts, 2006.
McLeod, S. A. (2015). Unconscious mind. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/unconscious-mind.html
Vinney, Cynthia. “Freud: Id, Ego, and Superego Explained.” ThoughtCo, Feb. 11, 2020, thoughtco.com/id-ego-and-superego-4582342.
