The subconscious and unconscious mind are two of the most important parts of our psyche. They play a vital role in our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, even though we are not always aware of their influence.
In this article, we will compare and contrast the subconscious and unconscious mind, and discuss their role in our lives.
What is the subconscious mind?
The subconscious mind is a part of our psyche that is not currently in focal awareness. It stores all of our memories, thoughts, and feelings, even those that we are not consciously aware of. The subconscious mind is also responsible for many of our automatic behaviours, such as breathing, walking, and digesting food.
What is the unconscious mind?
The unconscious mind is a deeper level of the psyche that is even less accessible to consciousness. It contains all of our repressed memories, thoughts, and feelings, as well as our most basic instincts and drives. The unconscious mind is also responsible for many of our dreams and nightmares.
How do the subconscious and unconscious mind differ?
The subconscious and unconscious mind differ in several ways. First, the subconscious mind is more accessible to consciousness than the unconscious mind. We can sometimes become aware of our subconscious thoughts and feelings, but our unconscious thoughts and feelings are much more difficult to access.
Second, the subconscious mind is responsible for more automatic behaviours than the unconscious mind. The subconscious mind controls our breathing, walking, and digesting food, while the unconscious mind is more involved in our emotions and motivations.
Third, the subconscious mind is more easily influenced by our conscious thoughts and feelings than the unconscious mind. We can change our subconscious thoughts and feelings through techniques such as visualisation and meditation, while the unconscious mind is much more resistant to change.
How do the subconscious and unconscious mind influence our lives?
The subconscious and unconscious mind have a profound influence on our lives. They control our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, even though we are not always aware of their influence.
For example, our subconscious mind can influence our choices and decisions. We may choose to buy a certain product because we are subconsciously attracted to it, even though we are not consciously aware of why we like it.
Our subconscious mind can also influence our emotions. We may feel anxious or depressed for no apparent reason, but the reason may be that we are subconsciously holding onto negative thoughts or feelings.
Our unconscious mind can also influence our dreams. Our dreams are often a way for our unconscious mind to communicate with us, and they can reveal our hidden thoughts, feelings, and desires.
How can we access the subconscious and unconscious mind?
There are a number of ways to access the subconscious and unconscious mind. Some of these methods include:
- Dream analysis: Dream analysis is a technique that involves interpreting our dreams to reveal the hidden thoughts and feelings that are stored in our subconscious mind.
- Free association: Free association is a technique that involves saying whatever comes to mind, no matter how random or irrelevant it may seem. This can help us to access our unconscious thoughts and feelings.
- Hypnosis: Hypnosis is a state of heightened suggestibility that can be used to access the subconscious mind.
- Meditation: Meditation can help us to quiet our conscious mind and allow our subconscious mind to come to the surface.
In conclusion, the subconscious and unconscious mind are two of the most important parts of our psyche. They play a vital role in our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, even though we are not always aware of their influence. By understanding the subconscious and unconscious mind, we can gain a better understanding of ourselves and how we operate in the world.
Additional Resources
- The Subconscious Mind: An Introduction by Joseph Murphy
- The Unconscious Mind: A Guide to the Deeper Dimensions of Your Psyche by Carl Jung
- Dreams: The Language of the Unconscious by Sigmund Freud
- Free Association: A Psychoanalytic Method by Sigmund Freud
- Hypnosis: The Power of Suggestion by Milton Erickson
- Meditation: A Practical Guide to Inner Peace by Jon Kabat-Zinn
