I used to think the subconscious mind was just some mystical concept from self-help books. That is, until last summer when I found myself humming a song I hadn’t heard in 15 years while washing dishes. No warning, no trigger I could identify – just my brain deciding to pull up a forgotten tune from sophomore year. Right then, it hit me how much power was working beneath my conscious awareness.
Our subconscious mind is like the massive underwater portion of an iceberg – we only see and interact with the tiny tip above the surface. But make no mistake, that hidden 95% is constantly running the show behind the scenes.
This week, we’ve been exploring how our subconscious operates like an inner computer system. Today, let’s dive deeper into why understanding and working with your subconscious mind might be the most important success strategy you’re not fully utilizing.
That Weird Thing Your Brain Does When You’re Not Paying Attention
Ever notice how solutions to problems suddenly appear when you’re in the shower? Or how you’ll forget someone’s name, stop trying to remember it, then it pops into your head two hours later while you’re grocery shopping?
These aren’t coincidences. Your subconscious mind operates 24/7, processing millions of bits of information your conscious mind filters out. It’s working on problems, making connections, and running programs constantly – even while you sleep.
The subconscious doesn’t judge or analyze like your conscious mind does. It simply accepts what you repeatedly feed it and works to make those thoughts your reality. This is both incredibly powerful and potentially dangerous.
When we tell ourselves “I’m not good at math” or “I always mess up important presentations” – our subconscious doesn’t debate those statements. It just says, “Okay, that’s how things are” and then finds ways to make those beliefs come true. It’s like programming your GPS to take you to a destination you don’t actually want to visit, then wondering why you keep ending up there.
On the flip side, this automatic processing power can be redirected to serve our highest goals. The subconscious mind doesn’t care if you program it for success or failure – it just executes whatever programs you install.
Your Brain’s Night Shift Never Clocks Out
Unlike your conscious mind, which gets tired and needs rest, your subconscious never stops working. Never.
It controls your heartbeat and breathing. It processes emotions and stores memories. It keeps track of every single thing you’ve experienced, even stuff you can’t consciously recall. And most importantly for our discussion today – it’s constantly working to align your external reality with your internal programming.
This explains why you might set conscious goals (“I want to lose weight”) but sabotage your efforts without understanding why. If your subconscious programming contains contradictory beliefs (“Desserts are my comfort” or “I’ll never be athletic”), those deeper programs will usually win the battle.
So instead of fighting against your own subconscious, what if you learned to make it your ally?
Speaking Your Subconscious Mind’s Secret Language
Here’s the tricky part – your subconscious doesn’t understand logical arguments. You can’t debate with it. You can’t negotiate. The subconscious mind responds to different communication methods entirely:
1) Repetition – Your subconscious loves patterns. Statements repeated often enough eventually become accepted programming. This is why affirmations can work when done consistently over time.
2) Emotion – Information charged with strong feelings gets fast-tracked into your subconscious. Think about how a single traumatic event can create lasting fear, or how moments of intense joy become core memories.
3) Visualization – Your subconscious processes images more powerfully than words. It doesn’t distinguish between vividly imagined scenes and reality, which is why visualization practices can literally rewire your brain.
4) Relaxed states – When your conscious mind quiets down (like during meditation, just before sleep, or during mundane activities), your subconscious becomes more accessible and programmable.
Think about times when you’ve been completely absorbed in an activity – maybe painting, running, or working on something you love. That flow state? It’s partially your conscious mind stepping aside so your subconscious can take the wheel. Many breakthroughs happen in these moments because you’re accessing that deeper processing power.
Practical example? Sharon once struggled with public speaking. Instead of just rehearsing speeches (conscious activity), she began spending 10 minutes each morning visualizing herself speaking confidently, feeling the positive emotions of connecting with an audience. She created a simple phrase – “I share ideas that help people” – and repeated it while falling asleep. Within weeks, her presentation anxiety decreased dramatically. She was speaking her subconscious mind’s language rather than just trying to overpower it with willpower.
Why Your Subconscious Is Like That Friend Who Takes Everything Literally
One Thursday night last month, I caught myself thinking, “I’m dead tired” after a long day. Stopped myself right there. Because your subconscious mind doesn’t understand metaphors or jokes – it takes your statements as commands.
This is crucial to understand: your subconscious accepts whatever you tell it, especially with emotion or repetition. It doesn’t filter for truth or benefit. It just says “yes” to whatever programming you feed it.
So when you constantly say things like: – “This always happens to me” – “I never have enough money” – “I’m terrible at relationships”
Guess what instructions you’re giving your internal success computer? You’re literally programming yourself for more of the same experiences.
The subconscious mind is particularly receptive to statements phrased in the present tense, as if they’re already true. “I am becoming wealthy” works better than “I will be wealthy someday.” It also responds strongly to sensory-rich descriptions rather than vague concepts.
For example, rather than thinking “I want success,” try creating detailed mental pictures of exactly what success looks like, feels like, and even sounds like in your specific situation. Your subconscious will get busy making connections and spotting opportunities to match that detailed vision.
Partnering With Your Inner Supercomputer
All this week we’ve talked about techniques for reprogramming your subconscious. But here’s something we haven’t covered yet – the partnership aspect.
Your subconscious isn’t your enemy. It’s not working against you. It’s actually trying to protect you and help you based on its programming. When you start viewing your subconscious as a powerful ally rather than something to fight against, everything shifts.
Some practical ways to strengthen this partnership:
– Quiet time daily – Even 5-10 minutes of meditation or silent reflection helps establish clearer communication with your subconscious.
– Ask questions before sleep – Your subconscious often answers problems while you rest. Try posing specific questions before bed.
– Journal regularly – Writing bypasses conscious filters and often reveals subconscious patterns.
– Use symbols and images – Create vision boards or meaningful symbols that represent your goals.
– Track your results – When you start working with your subconscious intentionally, note the “coincidences” and insights that start appearing. This builds your trust in the process.
Remember that night job interview I completely bombed last year? I couldn’t figure out why until I realized my subconscious was still running an old program from a previous toxic workplace. Once I identified this, I could begin installing new programming through visualization and intentional thought replacement.
Your subconscious mind will always be more powerful than conscious willpower alone. When they work against each other, the subconscious usually wins. But when they align toward the same goal? That’s when magic happens.
Your ultimate success tool isn’t some external strategy or system. It’s already installed within you – waiting for the right programming to unleash its full potential.
The Next 24 Hours
So what’s one small way you might start communicating more effectively with your subconscious today? Maybe it’s watching your self-talk. Maybe it’s a five-minute visualization before starting work. Maybe it’s writing down a new belief you want to install.
The subconscious mind learns through consistent practice, not overnight transformation. Small, repeated efforts create lasting change in your internal programming.
And remember – you’re not fighting against your subconscious. You’re learning its language so you can finally work together toward the success you’ve always wanted.