Have you ever wondered why some individuals seem to effortlessly attract success and abundance, while others, despite their most strenuous efforts, find themselves falling short of their goals, sometimes even achieving the opposite of what they desire? The answer often lies not in external circumstances, but in the profound and often untapped power of our inner world, specifically, how we engage with our subconscious mind. This hidden aspect of ourselves can be the fertile ground for our greatest achievements or the unseen barrier to our deepest desires.

Understanding Your Two Minds: The Conscious and the Subconscious

Think of your mind as a sophisticated vessel navigating the vast ocean of life.

The Conscious Captain and the Subconscious Crew

Your conscious mind is the captain on the bridge. It's the part of you that reasons, analyzes, makes choices, and directs your actions based on the information it gathers from the outside world. The captain is in charge, observing, controlling the crew, and steering the ship.

Beneath the deck, however, is the engine room, operated by a diligent crew – this is your subconscious mind. This crew doesn't question the captain's orders; they simply carry them out. They don't see the horizon or debate the course; they trust the captain's directions implicitly. If the captain sets a course for treacherous waters, the crew will follow, unaware of the impending danger. Similarly, your subconscious mind diligently works to bring into reality the orders—the dominant thoughts, beliefs, and feelings—it receives from your conscious mind.

The Subconscious: A Fertile Ground for Your Thoughts

The subconscious doesn't filter information as good or bad, true or false. It's like rich soil that will nurture any seed planted in it. Whether you plant a seed of a beautiful apricot or a noxious weed, the soil provides the conditions for it to grow. It doesn't judge or prefer one seed over another.

This part of your mind also doesn't understand jokes or sarcasm when it comes to self-belief. It takes your words and convictions literally. If, under hypnosis, you're told a glass of water is pepper, you might start sneezing. If you're told you are a cat, you might act like one. Even statements not based in current reality are accepted as truth. So, if you persistently tell yourself, "I can't afford this car," or "I'll never achieve that dream vacation," your subconscious mind diligently works to make that your reality. You may then look at your life and lament your circumstances, never realizing that your own thought patterns were the architects of your experience.

The Unspoken Right to Abundance

Desiring a life of abundance and well-being is not a source of shame; it is a natural inclination. Consider the free circulation of blood in a healthy body; in the same vein, the free circulation of resources in your life signifies financial health. Poverty is not a virtue; it can be likened to an ailment. If you experience a physical symptom of illness, you recognize something is amiss and seek to address it. Similarly, if there’s a consistent lack of resources in your life, it suggests an imbalance that needs understanding and healing. But how often do we explore the underlying causes of this financial "dis-ease"?

Often, certain emotional states act as formidable roadblocks.

Overcoming the Shadows: Envy's Blockade

One of the most corrosive emotions is envy. Perhaps you've seen someone enjoying a lifestyle you desire and felt a sting of resentment, perhaps even attributing their success to unfair means. This kind of judgment creates a pit of negativity that pushes wealth further away. If the prosperity of another irritates you, you are, in effect, repelling prosperity from your own life. We tend to lose what we condemn. It's impossible to attract something you simultaneously criticize or envy.

Imagine wealth as a person. If you constantly find fault with that person, why would they want to be near you? Instead, if you witness someone's success, try to feel genuinely happy for them. See their achievement as a demonstration of what's possible, a testament that if they can achieve it, so can you. This shift in perspective transforms envy into inspiration.

The Paradox of Effort: Why 'Trying Harder' Can Hold You Back

Consider this: if asked to walk across a wooden plank lying flat on the ground, you'd likely do it with ease. But if that same plank were suspended fifty meters in the air, would you be as confident? Your intention to cross the plank would clash dramatically with your imagination, which would vividly picture the fall. No matter how much you might want to cross, the fear, amplified by your imagination, would likely prevail. The more you try to suppress such fearful thoughts, the more powerful they often become.

Attempting to overcome deep-seated subconscious patterns with sheer willpower is often like trying not to think about a white elephant—the very effort brings it to the forefront of your mind. Conscious thoughts, especially when focused on negative outcomes, tend to dominate and manifest.

The issue is often that we try too hard. Willpower alone cannot easily reprogram the subconscious. The more intense the effort, the further you might feel from your goal. Think of preparing for an important examination. You study diligently, yet when the moment arrives, your mind goes blank. The harder you try to recall the information, the more elusive it becomes. But once you leave the examination room and the pressure subsides, the answers often flood back. The mind cannot be forced.

Instead, try a gentler approach. Relax. Focus on the end result you desire. Use your imagination and immerse yourself in the feeling of having already achieved your goal. Your subconscious is receptive to this state of being and will begin to align itself with bringing that imagined reality to fruition. You might find new ideas surfacing, new solutions appearing, or new people entering your life. The key is not to be so fixated on one specific path that you miss the opportunities that arise.

Sometimes, we set a goal and rigidly define how it must be achieved. For instance, you might decide on a financial target and plan to reach it through a specific venture. You pour all your energy into that one avenue, but progress stalls. Meanwhile, other unexpected opportunities might present themselves, perhaps in a completely unrelated field. It's easy to dismiss these because they don't fit your preconceived plan. However, when new doors open, it’s wise to explore them. The universe often delivers our desires in ways we didn't anticipate. Your primary task isn't to figure out the 'how'; it's to be clear on the 'what' and trust that your subconscious will illuminate the path.

Confronting the Barrier of Fear

A common refrain is, "I tried affirmations and visualization, but nothing changed." Often, this happens because a few minutes of positive focus are quickly overshadowed by hours of allowing negative thoughts and fears to dominate. Imagine giving a taxi driver an address, then changing it, then changing it again. The driver would be confused and, even if they followed your instructions, the destination would be uncertain.

Working with your subconscious requires a clear, consistent mental image of your goal and an unwavering belief that a solution exists. Life tends to reflect our most dominant thoughts. If you repeatedly tell yourself you'll fail an interview or an exam, you are essentially programming your subconscious for that outcome. The fear of failure actively creates the conditions for failure.

How can this be overcome? If, for example, you fear swimming, take a few quiet moments each day to relax deeply. Then, in your mind's eye, vividly imagine yourself swimming. Feel the coolness of the water, the movement of your limbs, the joy of the experience. Make it real and positive in your imagination. These positive emotions will begin to overwrite the fear in your subconscious. The next time you approach the water, you may find joy instead of dread. This technique can be adapted to many fears, such as the fear of examinations or public speaking.

Bringing Your Desires to Life Through Visualization

The simplest way to engage your subconscious constructively is to create a vivid mental image of your goal and bring it to life in your mind.

Seeing It Before It Is: The Architect's Vision

Can we truly see something that doesn't yet exist in physical form? Absolutely. Every great invention, every significant human achievement, from the computer to the telephone, first existed as a thought, an image in someone's mind. Architects, for instance, see buildings in their completed state long before the first brick is laid. The beauty and functionality of the structure already exist in their imagination. To begin any significant endeavor without first vividly imagining the desired result would be like a builder randomly stacking bricks, hoping something worthwhile emerges.

The Power of Pre-Sleep Visualization

Visualization is particularly potent just before falling asleep or after a period of meditation. In these relaxed, sleepy states, the usual conflict or chatter between the conscious and subconscious minds tends to subside. This makes it easier for your subconscious to absorb and work with your desired outcomes.

As you sleep, your subconscious continues its work. While our conscious mind rests, vital bodily functions like heartbeat, blood circulation, and digestion (if you've eaten before bed) are managed by the subconscious. Hair and nails continue to grow. This tireless inner worker also processes information and can even solve problems while you sleep. Many notable figures throughout history have reported finding inspiration and solutions to complex problems in their dreams.

Tapping into Inner Guidance

When faced with an important decision, if panic or anxiety begins to set in, the first step is to stop and think constructively. Don't allow fear to cloud your judgment. True, clear thinking is free from fear.

Finding Answers Within: Letting Your Subconscious Lead

Here's a simple technique: Ask your body to relax. Calm your mind. Then, focus your thoughts on the problem at hand, actively seeking a solution with your conscious mind. Once you've explored it, shift your focus. Imagine and feel the joy and relief of knowing that the perfect solution has already been found, that the problem is resolved. Dwell in this happy, peaceful state as you drift off to sleep.

The answer may not always appear immediately upon waking. It might come to you later, perhaps when you are engaged in some other activity. Trust that the solution is already within you. Maintain that feeling of joyful anticipation. Your subconscious is attuned to your dominant mood and belief. Sooner or later, you may experience an inner knowing, a hunch, or an intuitive nudge guiding you. When this feeling arises, trust it and follow where it leads. The book itself shares accounts of how this method helped individuals find solutions, such as locating a lost item by trusting an unlikely intuitive prompt.

The Healing Force of Forgiveness

Life itself is an embodiment of forgiveness. If you cut your finger, life works to heal the wound. If you suffer a burn, life strives to regenerate new tissue. Life doesn't hold grudges; it constantly renews and restores.

Letting Go of Yesterday: The Renewal Within

Why, then, do we find it so hard to extend the same grace to ourselves and others? We can spend years tormenting ourselves over past actions or words: "I shouldn't have said that," "I should have done things differently." Regret is a common human experience. We struggle to forgive ourselves or those who we feel have wronged us.

Consider this: know that scientists have confirmed that the cells in the human body are renewed every 11 months. The body is completely renewed. It turns out that every 11 months we are born again. The person who made a mistake years ago is, in terms of cellular makeup, no longer the same. If you continue to blame that "past" self, you are, in a way, holding an innocent person accountable. If you had the chance to go back, armed with your current understanding, you would likely act differently. So, why continue to suffer and carry the weight of past errors?

Your Subconscious: The Architect of Well-being

Imagine you assembled a complex clock. If it stopped working, you would have a good understanding of how to fix it because you were its creator. Your subconscious mind is, in a way, the creator and maintainer of your body. It knows how to heal it and restore its vital functions.

Healing from the Inside Out: Trusting Your Inner Physician

Day and night, sleeping or waking, your subconscious tirelessly manages all your body's intricate processes without your conscious involvement. You don't consciously regulate your breathing or heartbeat. If the conscious mind were tasked with such complex operations, survival would be momentary. Even the most advanced medical technologies cannot replicate the constant, intricate work performed by our subconscious around the clock.

Guarding Your Mental Gates for Physical Harmony

While the conscious mind cannot directly control these deep bodily functions, it can certainly interfere with their proper operation. If an untrained person were to enter an airplane's cockpit, they wouldn't be able to fly it, but they could easily distract the pilot and disrupt the flight. Similarly, negative states of mind like anxiety, worry, persistent fear, and depression can interfere with the harmonious functioning of the heart, lungs, stomach, and other organs. Stress disrupts the coordinated work of the subconscious.

If you are feeling unwell, either physically or psychologically, one of the most powerful things you can do is to consciously let go, relax, and quiet your thoughts. Become the gatekeeper of your conscious mind, allowing only positive, life-affirming thoughts to enter. Fill your consciousness with concepts of harmony, health, and peace. Your body will respond. Focus your mind on the best, and your subconscious will work to manifest it. You will begin to feel an inner sense of well-being and positive anticipation. The feeling of health generates health; the feeling of wealth generates wealth.

A Final Thought

Remember, your subconscious mind does not distinguish between a thought vividly held and reality. In the realm of the subconscious, what you consistently think about and believe with feeling is, in a sense, already happening. Keep your aspirations for health, abundance, and happiness at the forefront of your mind, and allow your powerful inner partner to help you build the life you truly desire.

References:

• Murphy, J. (1963). The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. Prentice-Hall. This foundational work, which inspired the article, extensively details the mechanisms by which the subconscious mind influences life events, health, and prosperity. It provides numerous examples and techniques for directing subconscious patterns towards desired outcomes, covering themes like healing, wealth attraction, and overcoming fear, which are central to the article.
• Lipton, B. H. (2005). The Biology of Belief: Unleashing the Power of Consciousness, Matter & Miracles. Hay House. This book provides a scientific perspective that complements the article's themes, particularly regarding health and the mind-body connection. Dr. Lipton explores how thoughts, beliefs, and emotions can biochemically affect the body at a cellular level, supporting the idea that our internal state significantly impacts our physical well-being and our ability to heal, as discussed in the sections on forgiveness and subconscious healing.
• Doidge, N. (2007). The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. Penguin Books. This work delves into the concept of neuroplasticity—the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. This aligns with the article's core message that individuals can change their lives by changing their thought patterns. The book offers evidence that focused mental effort and new experiences can alter brain structure and function, which underpins the principles of visualization and overcoming ingrained fears and habits mentioned in the article.