The Difference between the Conscious and Unconscious Mind
The Conscious and Unconscious
The following is an explanation of the differences between the conscious and unconscious mind. After you read this, you?ll have a better understanding of the unconscious and why, in my work, I choose to work with both.
The conscious mind is only aware of 7 + or ? bits of information at a time.
The unconscious mind is aware of everything else.
The conscious mind is sequential. It likes logical order.
The unconscious mind processes simultaneously. It multitasks.
The conscious mind is logical. It likes things to make sense ? have a reason.
The unconscious mind is intuitive and can make associations of information easily.
The conscious mind is linear thinking. It thinks in terms of cause-effect.
The unconscious mind makes associations and connections between many thoughts, ideas and feelings.
The conscious mind seeks answers to ?why??
The unconscious mind knows why.
The conscious mind does your intellectual thinking. Is responsible for your self-talk.
Your unconscious mind does your perceiving and feeling.
Your conscious mind is associated with the waking, thinking state.
The unconscious mind is associated with the dreaming (including day dreaming), reflecting, meditating and sleeping state.
The conscious can voluntarily move parts of your body.
The unconscious can involuntarily move parts of your body.
Your conscious mind is only aware of the now.
Your unconscious mind is unlimited in time and space. It holds all your memories and future constructs.
The conscious mind seeks understanding of problems and reasons that if it understands them, it can make them go away.
Your unconscious mind decides what it will do about it. It can forget (amnesia), distort (make false associations) or break connections (get over it).
The conscious mind is deliberate.
The unconscious mind is automatic.
The conscious mind is verbal (including self-talk).
The unconscious mind is nonverbal (feeling).
The conscious mind is analytical.
The unconscious mind is literal.
The conscious mind is the place of cognitive learnings and understandings.
The unconscious mind is the place of experiential learnings.
Your conscious mind uses the intellect to come up with logical solutions for problems.
Your unconscious mind can access internal resources from memories of experiences, linking them all together - creating a resourceful state.
Your conscious mind will tell you when your right because the facts line up.
Your unconscious mind will tell you when you are right because it will feel right.
Your conscious mind has limited focus.
Your unconscious mind has unlimited focus.
References:
Descriptions adapted from: Training Trances: Multi-Level Communication In Therapy and Training by John Overdurf & Julie Silverthorn, Metamorphous Press: Oregon, 1994, pg. 66
Things to know about ourselves
Things to Know about Yourself and Others
1. People do what works, and that is usually something that is easiest and immediate to implement. Unfortunately it’s not always something that is beneficial in the long run. For example: getting drunk when you get stressed. You are looking to avoid the stress feeling and getting drunk is easy and immediate. It isn’t anything that is helpful though, in the long run.
2. People do what’s familiar. People will usually choose the “devil they know” than the unknown path.
3. We teach others how to treat us. If someone gets the response they want from you, they will repeat the method. For example, if your mother gets you to call her by making you feel guilty, then she will continue to try to make you feel guilty to get you to call her.
4. Your mind will create the reality that you are thinking about. It always goes toward and doesn’t understand “away”. That’s why many people tend to get what they don’t want. They create self-fulfilling prophecies.
5. People often feel hurt by another’s actions because of the “perceived” (hurtful) intention.
6. You can be brainwashing yourself by negative self-talk when you are upset. One of the ways brainwashing works is by giving suggestions to someone when they are upset. Another way is repetition. When you are upset and telling yourself negative things, you are implanting those ideas in you mind. Truth is irrelevant to belief.
7. Getting lots of rest builds strength of mind.
8. Prolonged stress can alter your body chemistry bringing on depression, anxiety, irritability. Prolonged stress weakens the Will and makes the individual suggestible.
9. Habits are formed by repetition. Old habits are broken by using new habits. Neuro-pathways are similar to paths in a forest – with frequent use, the become well defined and easy to access. When they are rarely used, the pathway gets fainter and eventually disappears.
10. Learning and change take place in the subconscious mind.
11. Suggestions work best when you are ready for change.
12. Inner strength is self-reinforcing.
13. Emotions and thoughts have a profound affect on your brain chemistry (neuro-chemical responses).
14. Denial occurs when you lie to yourself. You lie to yourself when you ignore your inner voice of truth and pretend that we don’t hurt our bodies and minds with destructive behaviors and habits. Denial – keeping family secrets and turning a blind eye to abuse (animal abuse, elder abuse, spousal abuse, child abuse, self abuse etc.). Ignoring unpleasant things that we could do something about.
15. Self-awareness opens the door to change and growth. Becoming aware of your thoughts is a good start. Pay attention to the tone of voice you use with yourself. Is it kind, wise, loving or scolding, criticizing and nagging? What specifically are you saying to yourself. (Write it down and bring to session.)
16. Change all negative thoughts to positive thoughts immediately. Repetitive negative thoughts are self-hypnotic …so are positive thoughts.
17. Boredom is conducive to destructive thought patterns. People who have nothing better to do begin to obsess about themselves, usually in a negative way. Boredom is a chosen state of mind, you could just as easily choose to occupy yourself with a variety of enjoyable and/or productive activities.
18. Bored people are boring – they are busy waiting for someone else to entertain them. They are refusing to accept responsibility for creating their own hell.
19. It takes two weeks to permanently change a behavior.
Re: Things to know about ourselves
I enjoyed reading your posts thanks. p.r.
Re: Things to know about ourselves
Quote:
Originally Posted by
peter rankin
I enjoyed reading your posts thanks. p.r.
Re: http://www.mindplacesupport.com/foru...83&postcount=3
Thanks!:)
M.
Re: The Difference between the Conscious and Unconscious Mind
Excellent thought, how do I get in touch with my unconscious mind? Curious
Re: The Difference between the Conscious and Unconscious Mind
Excellent summation, but is the thoughts in our mind spiritual giving us our spirituality? It is said we are a spirit living in a human body. What I see I understand, except for hearing my thoughts in my mind, which I want to believe is spiritual. Curious