Psychologists suggest that only about 5% of our brain activity is conscious (source: Cognitive Neuroscience) and that 95% of what’s happening in our brain is subconscious, meaning that a vast majority of what we are doing is automatic, like breathing, walking, or relying on experience to react without thinking. You can take guidance from a friend or a counselor who can help you with this.
Read more: 9 Ways People Hide Emotional Pain
Make note of Dreams
Your dreams are, in fact, the “voice” of your subconscious mind. Your dreams most often express your fears, wants, or worries in symbols that we do not recognize at first.
Fact: Sigmund Freud was on to something when he said dreams represent the “royal road” to the unconscious.
Investigation: You are having dreams where you keep missing a train. In your waking life, you may have a fear of missing an opportunity.
Suggestion: Start recording your dreams (and do it immediately when you wake up). You will be in for a surprise at what patterns will form.
Pay Attention to Your Gut
That feeling of discomfort in your gut that you get when something feels wrong? That’s not just by chance; it’s
Your body responds to signals from your subconscious mind.
Research: Leeds University did a study and found that the gut has its nervous system, and it sends messages to your brain. 85% of participants who studied trusted their gut made better decisions.
Quote: “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift.” – Albert Einstein
Recognize Patterns That Recur in Life
If you keep experiencing the same type of situation or encountering the same type of person, it is not by accident. It is likely your subconscious identification with it based on feelings or thoughts that you have not wrestled with yet.
Example: a bossy friend who keeps coming back to your life? This could have reference to how you were treated as a child, and/or, you could have feelings around this.
For Interesting: Your brain categorizes information based upon whatever your unconscious filter would have identified as “familiar.”
Recognize Your Mistakes
Have you ever accidentally let slip a true, deep truth like you’re saying something that you don’t mean to, but it turns out to be a “Freudian slip.” These little mistakes often reveal a hidden thought that your mind was hiding.
Example: You call your teacher “mom” by accident. This may signify that subconsciously, you are connecting your teacher as being a caregiver or authority figure.
Pay Attention to Body Language
Your body can express what your mind may be trying to mask. Oftentimes, the smallest of behaviors may reveal subconscious feelings: nail biting, arms in cross, and lack of eye contact.
Stat: 93% of our communication is nonverbal (the rule of Mehrabian), including tone of voice, and body language.
Strategy: The next time you feel uncomfortable, check out your body. Are you caving, fidgety, or nervous? Your subconscious is shouting at you through your body language!
Listen to the Voice in your Head
What do you profess to yourself when nobody is listening? The voice within you is going to tell you what you truly believe on a subconscious level.
Example: You may engage in a negative thought like, “I’m going to fail.” It’s most likely something you learned at some point in your life, and it has gotten stuck in your psyche.
Quote: “Be careful about how you talk to yourself because you are listening.” – Unknown
Fun Tip: For one day, document everything you tell yourself. You’ll be surprised by what your inner world looks like.
Identifying the Triggers
Frequently, we can experience strong feelings (anger, sadness, etc.), especially when they come seemingly out of nowhere. It is probable that when we experience these feelings, our reactive feelings trigger by open wounds deep in the subconscious.
For example, if someone (with whom you have a good relationship) does not respond to your text and you cry and sob uncontrollably, it is likely that you are tapping into a place in your psyche that remembers being emotionally alone as a child.
Notice Your Daydreaming
Where does your mind wander? Your subconscious often uses daydreams to represent either a desire or need that you may have been suppressing.
Example: Let’s say you daydream about travel or a thrilling adventure. This may indicate that your inner child is trying to escape the constraints of your current life.
Notice What You Avoid.
Do you notice topics or things that you habitually avoid? Avoidance can be telling because it may indicate that your subconscious is trying to protect you from the pain or fear that associates with it.
Example: You may avoid being in romantic relationships not because you want to be single, but because you were hurt previously in that context.
Fact: avoidance is a form of defense mechanism, a mode the mind chooses for you to keep you from interacting safely.
Free writing
Get a pen and paper (not a computer), don’t edit or stop–just write for 10 minutes. You will be surprised what your subconscious has to say!
A fun twist: Write “What am I feeling?” on the top and just go for it!
Psychological tidbit: Free writing can bypass the “filter” of the constructive mind and let out your thoughts.
Final Thoughts: Don’t just look, see
Your subconscious is like a quiet, wise friend. It is always communicating to you, but not with words. It is using your dreams, feelings, habits, and silence to communicate. Don’t dismiss those little signals your mind is imparting.
Your unconscious mind isn’t against you- it’s serving you. Start to listen, decode, and trust your unconscious mind.
This is an important thing: you are not alone, and you don’t have to hide. You can discuss it with someone who can help you listen to your problems.
Stat Wrap-Up:
1.1.95% of your brain activity is subconscious.
2.2.85% of people trust their gut feelings when making serious decisions.
3.93% of what we share is non-verbal communication.
Quote to remember:
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” – Carl Jung
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