You may already be aware that the thoughts of the subconscious mind can influence the conscious mind. Often, it is capable of sabotaging our best intentions.
But what do you know about programming your conscious mind?
What Is The Conscious Mind?
Your conscious mind is like your command centre. It is where you experience the present moment. It is also responsible for whatever you are aware of or what is currently holding your attention.
As such, it is directly linked to your ability to concentrate.
It facilitates your logical and analytical processes. You experience sensations, perceptions, memories, feelings via your conscious mind.
Your conscious mind also allows you to compare the information that you have received via your five senses. It is responsible for rational thought.
As you may have guessed, your conscious mind goes to sleep when you do.
By comparison, what is the subconscious mind?
Your subconscious mind is the part of your mind of which you are not fully aware. It subtly influences your behavior without you even realizing it.
The subconscious mind amasses information that you gather from your five senses and generates thoughts and emotions.
This in turn informs our choices, behaviors, and habits. So in essence, your subconscious mind is responsible for your default programming.
There is no need to worry; this does not mean you have a split personality. However, the subconscious role is critical to how the human mind works.
It is believed that the subconscious mind may have been responsible for safety long ago. When a threat was perceived, you were then required to decide whether to run or stay put (fight or flight).
Your subconscious mind would then take over; driving you to instantly do what was needed to save your life. Your body would provide you with a boost of adrenaline to get you out of harm’s way.
However, today we rarely have to flee from predators. As such our subconscious mind may shift into overdrive from time to time.
It relies on the perceptions formed from the events and experiences of our pasts. We in turn rely on it to make our decisions.
We do not have much control over our subconscious mind, but we can program our conscious mind and live more fully because of it.
Here are some useful tips to help you live fully in your conscious mind.
Live in the Moment
Our thoughts are certainly one of the hardest things to control. Have you ever found yourself remembering the words of a funny conversation or ‘banter’ over and over in your head, then switching to worrying about an upcoming project that needs to be completed next week?
When you choose to live in the moment, regardless of the activity that you are engaged in, you are truly present in your conscious mind.
In order to truly live in the moment, you have to practice mindfulness.
Put another way, you need to learn to pay attention on purpose. For instance, when we are washing dishes, it’s perfectly normal to allow our minds to stray.
However, if using your conscious mind in a mindful way, you not only need to be paying attention to the task, but also of the process.
You should be conscious of the water on your hand. Feel the temperature of the water and the silkiness of the suds. Take a deep breath and inhale the smell of the soap.
If you decide to take a drive into the country with a friend, you should try to be present. Tune in to everything about the experience.
Appreciate nature! The countryside is a living canvas of natural beauty. Enjoy the laughter that you and your friend are sharing as you trade jokes back and forth.
When you begin to live in the moment, you are actively training your conscious mind.
Try Meditation
Meditation is a powerful tool that you can use to program your conscious mind. Meditation helps you distinguish between the conscious mind and the subconscious mind.
If you are new to meditation, there are different types of meditation to choose from. You may have to explore them a bit to discover which one is right for you.
Here is a list of some of the more well-known types of meditation:
Mindfulness Meditation
This type of meditation is great for beginners. You don’t have a teacher to guide you, as it can be easily practiced alone.
With mindfulness meditation, you tune in to the thoughts that are passing through your mind. You just let them pass through your mind without interacting with or judge them. You are a passive observer, simply taking notes.
Mindfulness meditation merges concentration and awareness. Here is some practical advice, focus on your breath or an object to focus your attention, then listen to your body.
Visualization meditation
Visualization meditation is a technique focused on enhancing feelings of relaxation, peace, and calmness by visualizing positive scenes or images.
With this practice, it’s important to imagine the scene vividly and use all five senses to add as much detail as possible.
Another form of visualization meditation involves imagining yourself succeeding at specific goals, which is intended to increase focus and motivation.
Many people use visualization meditation to boost their mood, reduce stress levels, and promote inner peace.
Focused Meditation
This type of meditation requires you to focus on any one of your five senses. You can use objects like a candle to focus on (you concentrate on the flame) or play meditation music.
Even though focused meditation sounds simple in theory, it can be difficult to hold your focus for longer than a few minutes at first.
If your mind wanders, (and in the beginning, and it will), you gently bring it back to your focal point.
Transcendental Meditation
This meditation category utilizes mantras i.e., a set of words that are repeated. You can choose whatever mantra you want.
If you want to be consistent with your meditation routine, transcendental meditation might be the right fit for you.
Movement Meditation
As the name suggests, this type of meditation utilizes movement to access your conscious mind. Yoga and qigong are both movement meditation techniques. However, a nature walk is also considered movement meditation.
During meditation, your brain sends out alpha brain waves. They are associated with wakeful relaxation when your eyes are closed.
On the other hand, beta waves are linked to reasoning and consciousness.
Regardless of the type of meditation you choose, you will have more control of your conscious mind.
Make a Choice
Always remember that you have a choice when it comes to your emotions. You can decide how to feel and choose how long you want to feel a particular way. It is all up to you.
You can choose the outlook on life that you wish to have. You can decide to see an ending as a new beginning. Always believe that the universe is ready and able to serve you good things.
A positive mindset is key. Choosing your thoughts is an effective strategy for programming your conscious mind.
We encourage you to try any of the techniques suggested above to begin programming your conscious mind. There are significant benefits if you decide to invest in this process.
