Unlocking the Power of the Subconscious
It has been documented that 80-90% of New Year’s Resolutions fail (most of us have personal validation of this statistic) and Dr. Edward Miller noted “if you look at people after coronary-artery bypass grafting two years later, 90% of them have NOT changed their lifestyle.” Dr. Miller, the Dean of the Medical School and CEO of the hospital at Johns Hopkins notes, “. . . this has been studied over and over and over again. And so we’re missing some link in there. Even though they know they have a very bad disease; and they know they should change their lifestyle, for whatever reason, they can’t.”
Neuroscience & Psychology research throughout the 21st century has shown that the hidden mental processes and neural activity in the subconscious mind govern 90% of how we think, feel and act on a regular basis.
Did you notice that 90% number repeat?
The subconscious includes a wide range of mental processes and contents, such as automatic and involuntary behaviors, implicit memories, and emotional responses that are not consciously recognized or controlled. It is also the site of the beliefs, values, identities, attitudes and influences inherited through our environment, family, culture, media and more that unconsciously shape our thinking, feelings, decisions and behaviors, without awareness.
The great news is that the subconscious is quite malleable if you know how to work with it instead of against it.
The Subconscious Mind was theorized by Freud and Jung in the 20th century; but the idea that beliefs, feelings, memories and motivations operate outside of conscious thought was actually first recorded in the Hindu texts known as the Vedas between 2500 and 600 BCE. Even Shakespeare explores the concept of the subconscious, without naming it, in some of his plays.
Thanks to the creation of functional MRIs in 1990’s, we moved from theory to empirical evidence. We can now see and measure the functioning of the brain, by monitoring thought and unconscious activity in the brain. Imaging shows how humans process information and react to the environment subconsciously. World expert and researcher John Bargh, PhD of Yale and his Automaticity in Cognition, Motivation, and Evaluation (ACME) Lab has been investigating, testing and mapping the unconscious for more than 30 years. The subconscious, at times, has been called a “biologic supercomputer” because it processes approximately 11 million bits of data from our senses every second and its influence controls approximately 90% of what we think, feel and do. Meanwhile the conscious mind focuses on the most relevant 7-100 bits of data determined relevant by the subconscious to the moment.
Does it feel bizarre to think that 90% of your thoughts and behaviors are outside of your conscious control? I was shocked! I was sure my conscious, executive functioning and prefrontal cortex was running the show.
Yet, everyday, we all have first-hand experience of the automatic processing of the subconscious when we speak. We don’t remember learning our first language. It was awkward and difficult and required significant conscious practice, concentration, experimentation and failed attempts. But with time and repetition, you now have access to over 10,000 words without consciously thinking about it. You don’t need to think about how those words come together in phrases and sentences. Nor have difficulty understanding someone when they string together those same words of your primary language. Your subconscious needs very little input to bring language & meaning to your conscious mind. No one ever gets “talker’s block” when sitting down to chat with a friend; language is automatic and it’s all within our subconscious.
Wonder if this is really true? Try reading this meme below.
Did you try it?
Pretty fascinating how little your subconscious needs to create meaning & logic
Again it can be very difficult to believe this biologic supercomputer is constantly at work, underneath all our conscious awareness and thinking. The picture below can be helpful in comprehending the tremendous work our subconscious is executing in the service of our life, survival and thriving at any one moment. Here is a small but powerful example of how the subconscious impacts our vision from the book Subliminal: Your Unconscious Rules Your Behavior by Leonard Mlodinow:
This image shows how vision is interpreted by our subconscious (L) vs. how vision is actually seen by the rods and cones on the retina (R)
Your brain operates via a complex mechanism of predictions in your subconscious; utilizing past data and patterns to create our present conscious moment. Understanding what you experience as sight, is yes the stimuli on the rods and cones of your retina. But that rough, blurry, incomplete data is filled in, made complete and holistic by your subconscious, to give you the seamless experience of 20/20 vision. Researchers have found your subconscious mind influences not only your vision & senses but ultimately controls roughly 90% of: Behaviors, Thoughts, Emotional Responses, Goal Achievement, Decision Making and Attitudes. Those controls can be in support of the direction of your conscious goals and desires or they can (and often do) operate in contrast and with powerful oppositional force to what you say you really want. Hence strong desire, sincere intention, and willpower in those new year’s resolutions and doctor’s recommendations is not enough.
Understanding, working with, and reprogramming the influential subconscious and its impacts on 90% of your behaviors and habits is an essential piece for any change to mental, physical or relational health. It is foundational for sustainable, long-lasting habit change, stress reduction, burnout prevention, mental resilience and physical wellbeing.
And the thrilling news: there is so much possibility for change and creating the life, relationships, work and health that you want! Because until now, your biological supercomputer (aka 90% of your power) hasn’t been incorporated into the traditional model or the strategies for change....but it can be.
My expertise is empowering you with the understanding of and the tools for your subconscious mind, to unlock any narratives, stories and patterning you've inherited from culture, media or your past that are keeping you stuck in stress, overworking, burnout, exhaustion and anxiety. You can learn to utilize the immense brilliance and power in your mind with simple techniques and processes inside The Integration Experience my signature coaching program. Wondering if this program is right support your unique mental & physical health needs & goals? Click HERE to set a free consultation & assessment.
And if you’d like 3 free tools you can use RIGHT NOW to start unlocking and working with the power of your subconscious mind, download my ebook: 5 Secrets to Vibrant Health at www.leadurante.com/ebook
