by Rachael J. Avery
On average, the subconscious mind fires 40 nerve impulses per second, representing 95 percent of our daily activity, according to Brain for Success’ Dr. Cynthia Miller, a psychotherapist, consultant, and pioneer in the areas of change, gratitude and transformation. Ideally, conscious and subconscious communication is harmonious and balanced like yin and yang. Consciousness has us answering “What,” while subconsciousness is asking Why?” When consciousness has an idea, subconsciousness is already working on the expression and meaning of that idea.
Too often, the conscious mind upsets this balance, grabbing the wheel and driving us down the road of self-defeating behaviors.
To get back to a place of harmony, there are some simple tools we can use to power up the subconscious and improve cooperation between these two aspects of our being so we become happier and healthier.
In simple terms, think of your subconscious as a perpetual three-year-old child in the back seat of the car asking, “Why, why, why?” to every single conscious thought throughout the day. When we live life according to our values, in alignment with high-vibrational activity, it’s energizing to answer the question, “Why?” However, if we’re tired, disappointed or unsure of a decision, it’s easy to see why we feel so exhausted from mentally having to answer this question constantly at a conscious level.
Often, the tension we feel in our bodies from exhaustive conscious/subconscious communication manifests itself as self-defeating behavior or addiction. This is the very reason why we set intentions like losing weight, eating healthy, exercising, finding the perfect relationship, or quitting smoking and then fall short time and time again. For example, setting weight loss goals sets our conscious mind to the task of furiously figuring out the “What:” walking, running, healthy eating, clubs, programs, detoxes, colon cleanses, or popcorn/no butter. The subconscious will be asking with every step, every activity, every bite on our fork, “Why?” If we know why at a conscious level and believe in ourselves, our deep-rooted values will answer our backseat three-year-old and it will be invigorating. We will be able to say statements such as:
- To live a vibrant long life
- To be active with my kids
- To accept what I’m worth
- To allow people to love me
- To heal my body from disease
- To seek a closer relationship and be more in alignment with my highest self
- To be a clear channel for my purpose
Therefore, being actively engaged in valuable exercises such as meditations, workshops, vision boards, or writing is a crucial part of balancing the harmonious yin/yang feeling of contentment, peace, and love—the language of the subconscious. When the relationship between the conscious and subconscious is harmonized in balanced expressions of what and why, success is likely to follow.
On the other hand, addictions and self-defeating behavior manipulate opportunistic compulsions of the conscious “doing” mind with luring whispers that say, “Come hither and do. There is no why, just feel good now.” This is incredibly desirable to the conscious mind because it offers an illusion that the subconscious isn’t there.
Three Steps Toward Harmony
However, the subconscious mind actually is more powerful and can be used to heal self-defeating behavior and addictions if one is willing to support the conscious mind with patience, love, support, and advanced nurturing techniques until that balance is achieved. Here are three tools to harness the power of your subconscious to overcome self-defeating behavior:
1. Positive Thoughts Create Positive Results—Resist the urge to judge yourself, your addiction, or where you are in your life. Whip out your most powerful positive affirmations. Affirmations are to the subconscious what cookies are to the “Cookie Monster.” The subconscious says: “Feed me!” and you are constantly feeding your subconscious. Be diligent in feeding it healthy, vibrant, positive thoughts to crowd out negative ones.
2. Identify Your Feelings—Every time you breathe in deep with a belly breath and ask, “What three emotion words am I feeling?” and then you answer, your subconscious says: “That makes sense. I validate you.” Emotions are the language of your subconscious.
3. Play—If you feel disappointed in your progress or you feel like you are hitting a brick wall in life, get up immediately and play. Color, skip, watch a cartoon, sit cross legged, giggle, sing a song. Playing is a catalyst for the subconscious that spitfires communication to consciousness saying, “Who care’s why? We’re finally free!!”
We all know that tackling self-defeating behaviors and battling addictions is not a game on the playground. However, awareness between the relationship of the conscious and subconscious mind empowers our journey in a way that can facilitate effortless triumph.
When communication is harmonized between the conscious and subconscious, amazing things starts to happen in life. It’s when you go to the movies and don’t feel like popcorn with butter for the first time in your life. It’s when you forgot to obsess about your weight one day. It’s passing the drive-through window and choosing to cook a healthy dinner at home. It’s about being attracted to nourishing and uplifting people rather than those who drain you of energy.
If there is a self-defeating, self-limiting, or addictive behavior lingering in the backseat of your life, have faith that your subconscious mind can help you.
I hope these three tools will help kick self defeating thoughts to the curb so you can continue forth driving on your path of divine sparkle!
Rachael J. Avery teaches cooking classes in Wesley Chapel, FL. She is the owner of The Grateful Pantry, an online community of grateful spiritual go getters who explore ways in which food, cooking and health challenges empower values. She uses a formula called “The Dinner Equation” to guide grateful cooking. For more information on Rachael’s vision board readings, intuitive dinner planning and coaching and dinner workshops visit www.thegratefulpantry.com.