Mind, Consciousness and Thought
To feel alive we must be self-aware, conscious of what we are experiencing. This is our conscious mind that thinks it is making choices about which thoughts (internal language), feelings (internal emotions and moods) and actions (internal physiology and body movement) are expressed as a sense of self with an identity and a personality that is bigger than our thoughts. But this subjects us to judgement and self-criticism and a belief there is something wrong with us that we need to put right. When we observe such thoughts we should pause before judging. That way thoughts will control us less and we wiser choices. It just takes practice in using mindfulness techniques.
“When you run after your thoughts, you’re like a dog chasing a stick. Face them like a lion.” – An old Tibetan saying.
So thoughts can be toxic. You hear an internal voice and imagine internal pictures that you connect with feelings in a state of consciousness. They reflect your wants as stories that become the daydreams, plans, and aspirations shaped by your preconscious or subconscious mind which serve deeper intentions in your subconscious mind.
Our conscious mind believes it is making the decisions and perceives them being carried out through our body, but how we “turn up” depends on the training given to our subconscious mind by our inner producer, scriptwriter, director, and actor. The conscious mind communicates to the outside world through our Way of Being and the subconscious holds the programmed thoughts, feelings, speech, pictures, distinctions, physical movement, and thoughts. It uses the predispositions and resources of the unconscious mind that hold our beliefs, habits, and behaviours that determine how we act in the world.
The diagram above explains how this happens. The energy that creates the environment or world “out there” is collected by our senses as observations that we make sense of as experiences. Our nervous system places them on a timeline, just like the storyboard that sequences events in a “movie” that we recall as memories. The brain filters the sensory data and interprets their meaning through language patterns, then connects them with associated emotions so they make sense as our perceived reality gets embedded in mind and body. Crucially important for the mind is the mood state we were in at the time the data was generated unconsciously and how it gets filtered into our conscious mind.
Partnership of Equals
It’s the pattern of relationships between events created between our conscious (observations) and subconscious mind (nervous system) that enables us to give meaning to our perceived world (mindset). It then becomes the paradigm or worldview that produces our habits, feelings, emotions, imagination, sensations, choices and dreams. But as powerful observers, we can question our programmed assumptions to produce better results from new actions.
It’s as if our conscious mind asks questions and our subconscious mind that digs into its store of electrochemical energy to find some preferred patterns as answers for our conscious mind to decide on. It’s an illusion to think that we have thoughts, prioritise them and then act on them. In fact, neurological science is showing that the choice has already been made by our subconscious which has already worked out what we will decide to do by considering what’s needed now to make a desired future possible.
When we think we are in “two minds” our assertions from past experience compete with the assessments we are making in the present. They are being worked through by our subconscious mind as it revisits the situations that worked for us in the past but are generating doubts and fears today. Apparently, 80% of our thoughts are negative and we need to consciously generate a positive mood state to overcome them.
We may not appreciate that our subconscious mind is aware of the outside world and can be influenced by it. Intuition and insights can come from situations that prompt feelings. How you experience a forest, rough seas, houses, etc., can induce a reaction that cannot be explained from your five senses alone. You may have had the experience of driving down a road and not remembering it. Your subconscious is aware and performs key functions to complement the conscious mind. It’s a partnership of equals. We need both to think logically and process observations so they make sense to us.
Making Assessments
Our conscious mind works in the present, directing our focus of attention and imagining what could be occurring. The feelings and memories that come to mind from past experience generate thoughts. If the language associated with those thoughts is negative, it determines how your world turns up for you. The impact of fear, anxiety or resentment can produce a negative result. If you consciously tell yourself and direct your focus to more rational, calming thoughts, then the negative thoughts will disappear.
The result depends on the type of programming your subconscious mind has made since you were born. It’s a process known as “structural determinism”. Once it is “hard-wired” it’s difficult to unlearn. That’s why it’s important to reflect on what you focus on and question the assumptions you are basing your decisions on. Deciding how you will think and what thoughts you will allow into your mind will determine your destiny – producing good or bad outcomes. We can choose how we interpret and respond to our experiences if we take responsibility for them. The essence of life leadership.
Using your Imagination
The other important ability of the conscious mind is to visualise a different life movie. Your mind can literally imagine something that is totally new and unique by using your inner producer, scriptwriter, director, and actor. Your subconscious mind offers perspectives from your memories that it has stored from past experiences. Thinking about what you would do if you won millions on the lottery, is enough for a new life movie to be produced in your subconscious mind as if it was happening. This is you being a powerfully conscious observer of your language, mood and body positioning.
The Subconscious Mind
The subconscious mind holds on to the neuro-linguistic programming and sensory data, to make it readily available to aid your thinking and your imagination. A bit like your computer’s RAM of short-term memory and rapid access to the programmes you use every day.
The subconscious works hard to ensure you can access your memories and habits to produce the “unconscious competence” that enables you to drive your car, shave your face or apply your makeup without much conscious thought. It also tests your assessments for meaning, validity, and alignment with your values and beliefs.
The subconscious is always attentive to what is occurring, staying a lot more aware of your surroundings than you realize. The conscious mind can only process about 10% of the data it receives from its senses. The subconscious about 60% and the unconscious about 30%. Most of what your brain processes and uses is hidden from your conscious awareness.
Your unconscious mind is inaccessible, but your subconscious can be directed by your conscious mind. That means the subconscious produces emotions and feelings depending on what you think about and the connections made to your memories.
The Unconscious Mind.
Your unconscious mind holds on to deeper memories and programmes, usually in the form of metaphors, symbols and emotional predispositions that you have held on to since birth. If you want significant change at a deep level, then this is the place to work on.
Unconscious is the term used by Psychologists and Psychiatrists to refer to the thoughts that emerge continuously and cannot be stopped. They just emerge when given the right trigger, such as a question. What’s the name of your best friend when you started school? You may have to think about it for a while before it reaches your conscious mind. Or, it will not appear no matter how hard you try. Sometimes hypnosis can help.
The subconscious mind, on the other hand, is almost the same, but the difference is we can choose to remember. This is because they are “closer to the surface” and more easily accessible to the conscious mind. Your ‘phone number will probably be accessed quickly. If not, it will slip into your unconscious mind and you will struggle to remember it.
If you want to affect change in your life at a deep or “soul” level then you have to work on the neurological patterns and language programs that are held in the unconscious mind.
As a leader of your life, you are continuously in charge of your own thoughts as you direct your focus of attention and visualise the “movie” you want your subconscious mind to replay. Do this often enough (and with enough emotional energy) and you will start to reprogramme your stories and beliefs to self-author your experience.
And when that happens you’ll experience change at a very deep level!
It’s very much a top-down approach. After all, it’s how your habits, behaviours and beliefs were created in the first place. Give it a try and see how you go – remember … enjoy the journey!
References
Invisible Power by Ken Manning. Insight 2015
Clarity by Jamie Smart. Capstone 2013
The Inside Out Revolution by Michael Neill. Hay House 2013