What Is Subconsciousness? How Can Understanding It Improve Our Lives?

Have you ever driven home without remembering the actual journey? It’s your subconsciousness that led the way.

Psychologists and researchers rave about the power of the subconscious. But it’s only recently that the subject has become an area of interest among the public.

The power of the subconscious has initiated a modern movement of introspection. People want to learn how to harness the power of their subconscious minds.

If you’re interested in unlocking the potential of your subconsciousness, here are the basics:

• What Is the Subconscious Mind?
• What Is an Example of Subconscious Behavior?

Understanding your subconscious mind will allow you to recognize how it manifests in your reality.

What Is the Subconscious Mind?

American neurologist, Dr. Marcus Raichle, explains that the subconscious mind is what conducts autopilot thinking. There are times during the day when our conscious minds switch off. When we sleep or daydream, we’re less aware of our surroundings. We go on autopilot.

But even when we’re on autopilot, we continue to register information within the brain. The sounds you hear, the scents you inhale, and the vibrations you feel are all registered in your subconscious mind.

So, now you know what the subconscious mind is. But why does it matter? And how does the subconscious manifest in reality?

How subconsciousness surfaces in the day-to-day

The subconscious mind guides every reaction that seems impulsive or sudden. Yelled at a colleague? Feeling low for no apparent reason? These are all signs of subconscious activity.

Your mind subconsciously stores all the subtle sensory information from your day-to-day experiences. When you act on impulse, this is often the subconscious mind at work.

Your response to your colleague may have been a result of repressed anger caused by an event that occurred earlier in the day. You may have subdued your reaction then, only to subconsciously release it during a conversation with your colleague.

If you find yourself lashing out more often than not, there is something you can do to alleviate the pressure. Becoming more aware of your subconscious activity can help you avoid impulsive, hurtful behavior in the future.

Is subconsciousness a word?

It sure is! The word subconsciousness refers to the state of not being wholly conscious when your conscious mind is at rest. 50-60% of your mental processes consist of subconscious activity, which applies to any activity outside active conscious awareness.

The subconscious plays a crucial role in shaping personality, behavior, and character. It is the storehouse of memories, experiences, and values within the mind.

Most people suffer from a lack of productivity because of their subconsciousness. However, the subconscious can be trained with the help of mindfulness meditation to become more aware of the present moment.

What Is an Example of Subconscious Behavior?

Have you ever felt suddenly and inexplicably anxious when meeting someone for the first time? This is the effect of the subconscious mind.

How about your physical response when an attractive person walks into the room? Pay attention next time and you’ll notice how your posture and disposition change in the presence of someone you find attractive.

Here’s another classic example of the subconscious at work: stress eating. Anxiety is a very normal reaction to daily stressors, but most people don’t have effective strategies for dealing with stress. Stress-eating is a classic example of how your subconscious mind can take the wheel.

Do dreams come from the subconscious mind?

Are you conscious when you’re asleep? Well, this depends on what stage of sleep you’re in.

In the deepest stage of sleep, your conscious mind is completely at rest. You become entirely unaware of what’s occurring in your immediate environment.

This is when your subconsciousness takes over. It maintains your breathing, bodily functions, and everything else required to keep you alive.

The subconscious mind never rests. It may be dormant throughout the day, but at night when you’re asleep, the subconscious becomes more active. Your dreams are nothing but a manifestation of accumulated subconscious thoughts.

That’s how nightmares are born. Ever watched a horror movie only to wake up later that night screaming? Now you know that there exists a real, logical connection between the two events.  

So, can you control your dreams? Absolutely. And that’s because you have the power to reprogram your subconscious mind.

Your subconscious thoughts and ideas are inspired by the books you read, the movies you watch, and the people you meet.

So, pay attention to what you feed your mind because it’ll shape your dreams and eventually — your reality.