The Key to Change

In my last blog, The Inner World of Thought, I mentioned how certain situations from our past, when replayed in the mind, tend to bring back the same strong feelings you originally felt. The physiological response of your body is the same as if that situation were actually happening to you in this moment. In other words, the experience of the memory or imagination is as real as the experience was at the time it happened.

In realizing this as true, you see the evidence of how your subconscious mind operates. There are two important concepts that can be used to your advantage if you understand them. And that is the purpose of this very special addition of my blog. Please read on.

First of all, the subconscious mind cannot distinguish between that which is real and that which is imagined. This is precisely why the physiological reaction in your body is the same in both cases. Memory is not real, but your subconscious mind expresses the same reaction in your body as it would if it were real.

The second concept that is revealed is that the subconscious mind experiences everything on an emotional level. The subconscious mind is often referred to as the feeling mind, as opposed to the thinking (conscious) mind.

Now you may be wondering why this revelation is so important. Let me tell you that at least ninety percent of your behavior is driven by habit, not conscious decision. Personally I believe this number is much higher than ninety percent. Let me tell you also that your habits reside in the subconscious part of your mind. Habits are not conscious actions, they are automatic, which makes them so difficult to control in the long term.

You try to make a change on a conscious level, and the change lasts a short while. Before you realize it, you are back to your habitual ways. Does this sound familiar? This is evidence that the conscious mind does have the power to override the subconscious faculty of habitual actions, but only in the short term.

This is because the conscious mind, while it is powerful, can only focus on one thing at a time. While you are focused on a new behavior, you have no problems in accomplishing it. However, you do need to change your conscious focus to function in other matters as well. You cannot function in these other matters while simultaneously focusing on your changed habit. The conscious mind is not designed to multitask.

So when your conscious mind does begin focusing on other tasks and matters, the subconscious kicks in to take up the matter in the way it does, the habitual way. Now whether or not this habitual way is beneficial or detrimental to what you desire is of no consequence. Thus habits of a malicious nature are as prone to remain imbedded in your programming as are good habits. And habits are not easily changed.

There is a reason for habits. Remember if you would how you felt when you were first learning to drive a car or ride a bike or anything new. If you remember, you were likely quite awkward and inefficient, until you repeated that activity enough to become proficient. This is when your subconscious mind takes your ability to perform that task and creates a habit so that it may run basically on autopilot.

The benefit of this is that it frees up your conscious mind to think about other things while you are performing this task. This is great, really. Except when it comes to some of the habits we wish we would not have picked up or those that no longer serve us well. Habits can be changed, but it can seem impossible if not nearly so. This is where this information can be of immense value, if you put it to use.

People who wish to change a habit generally make the attempt by using their will power. The will is a conscious faculty and has little to no effect on the subconscious mind. Thus, the subconscious mind is overridden only so long as there exists a conscious focus on doing so. The moment the conscious mind takes up another task, the subconscious kicks in as it was designed to do, with no change in programming.

The will can be used to change a habit if it is consistently used, long enough to form a new habit. However, few have the discipline to carry this method through. It takes a long time to change the programming by sheer conscious will.

The subconscious mind responds well to imaginary situations. Spend some time everyday and throughout the day imagining yourself performing the new habit you wish to acquire. You can do this at any time your conscious mind is free to wander such as while walking, driving, or doing any repetitive task. Remember the subconscious mind cannot distinguish between that which is real or imagined.

Speed this process up by injecting emotion into your fantasy. Imagine how good you will feel when the new habit will be yours! Imagine that it already is yours. Make it as real and as positive as you possibly can. This is the key to making a change in habit take hold on the subconscious level.


Thank you,

Jeffrey B. Brandt




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