A famous quote which stands true to this very day is, “Our life is the creation of our mind”. What we think or what we believe, we become. Isn’t that the most interesting thing about the existence of life?
If we follow this analogy, whatever we want to achieve, we can achieve easily. But the fact is something different. No matter how hard we try to bring a certain change, we fail most of the times. Because that’s what conscious and subconscious mind does. We have to train our mind in a direction, which will help us bring the change without losing the satisfaction.
For that, we will have to understand the concept of mind which covers, conscious and subconscious state.
A lot of different literature uses different terms. Which one is which? Which one is correct? Are they the same or different? What is the difference between the subconscious mind and the unconscious mind? Even some experts in the field of psychology struggle with defining the terms and they are often, mistakenly, used interchangeably.
Conscious Mind:
– Point of focus reasoning, logical, analytical
– Limited capacity
– Develops about 5 years of age
Subconscious Mind:
– Starts out empty at birth
– Database of information – long term memory
– Emotions, beliefs, habits, resist changes
Your conscious mind is what brings out the identity with who you are because that is where most people live day to day. The consciousness mind is your awareness at the present moment. You are aware of something on the outside as well as some specific mental functions happening on the inside. For example, you are aware of your environment, your breathing, or the chair that you are sitting on. But it’s by no means where all the action takes place.
The subconscious mind or the preconscious mind consists of accessible information. You can become aware of this information only once you direct your attention to it. Think of some daily routine chore, as going back home, or receiving a call on your smartphone, doing your mundane business. You do all these things without consciously needing to be alert to your surroundings. You can easily bring to consciousness the subconscious information about the path to your home. You can also easily remember phone numbers that you frequently use.
Your conscious mind is the captain of a ship, giving out orders. However, in reality, it’s the crew in the engine room below deck – the subconscious and the deeper unconscious – that carry out the orders. The captain may be in charge of the ship, but it’s the crew that actually handles the ship, but according to the direction of the captain or training. Your unconscious minds are the storage place of all your memories, emotions and habits and are in fact very good at reasoning and logic, which brings forth all the action.
Hence, we can conclude that it is easy to bring forth a change in life, only by changing your mind. For example, if all you do is focus your conscious thoughts continually on negative things, then your subconscious will obediently deliver the feelings, emotions, and memories that you have associated with that type of thinking. And because those feelings will become your reality, you can then be caught up in a never-ending loop of negativity, fear, and anxiety, constantly looking for the bad in every situation.
However, on the other hand, if you consciously tell yourself and direct your focus to more rational, calming thoughts, then the negative feelings will subside or disappear.
This ability of your conscious mind to direct your attention and awareness is one of the most important powers you have, and to create change in your life you must learn to control what you consciously focus on.
Your subconscious is the work desk of your mind. Controlling and directing it is the key to personal change.
Make a choice, and start focusing.