Preface:
Our mind processes a complex web of thoughts and emotions that shapes our reality. We often think of our mind as something we fully control, but in reality, most of our thoughts, actions, and emotions are shaped by a powerful force that sits beneath our conscious awareness. Much like the treasure buried deep within, it’s true value often lies beneath the surface. Uncovering it is not easy, and we must dig deeper to explore the hidden layers of it’s potential.
Yes, we are talking about our Sub-conscious mind, where our most profound beliefs, instincts, and creative powers reside. Only by tapping into the subconscious, can we access our true potential, uncovering insights that can transform our lives. This part of our mind can be our greatest friend when understood and harnessed, or it can limit us if left unchecked.
In this blog, I am building on the work done by Dr Joseph Murphy on the ‘Sub-conscious Mind’. Let’s explore more about this fascinating topic.
Understanding the levels of the human mind:
Our mind operates at different levels, with the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious each playing distinct roles. We must also remember that these are not separate minds, they are merely spheres of activity within one mind.
“Over ninety percent of our mental life is in the subconscious and unconscious space. If you fail to make use of this marvelous power, you condemn yourself to living within very narrow limits – Dr Joseph Murphy “
The Miracle Working Power of our Sub-conscious
William James the father of American psychology said that “the power to move the world is in your sub-conscious mind. Your sub-conscious is the one with infinite intelligence and boundless wisdom. Whatever you impress upon your subconscious mind, the latter will move heaven and earth to bring it to pass. You must, therefore, impress it with right ideas and constructive thoughts. This is the great law of life”.
Techniques to harness our Sub-conscious Mind
Dr Joseph Murphy in his book, “The Power of the Sub-conscious Mind’ refers to many techniques to activate the sub-conscious. Mentioned below are the 3 most often used techniques.
- Visualization Technique: The easiest and most obvious way to formulate an idea is to visualize it, to see it in your mind’s eye as vividly as if it were alive. What you can visualize in your mind’s eye, it already exists in the invisible realms of your mind.
- Baudoin Technique: Charles Baudoin, professor at the Rousseau Institute in France discovered that the best way to impress the sub-conscious mind is to enter into a drowsy, sleepy state, or a state akin to sleep, in which all effort was reduced to a minimum. Then the idea can be conveyed to the sub-conscious in a quiet, passive way.
- The Sleeping Technique: When you enter into a sleepy, drowsy state, effort is reduced to a minimum. The conscious mind is submerged to a great extent when in a sleepy state. The reason for this is that the highest degree of outcropping of the sub-conscious occurs just prior to sleep and just after we awaken.
Cognitive development approach – Development of Sub-Conscious:
There is no denying the potential of our ‘sub-conscious mind’. Another way to look at development of the sub-conscious is based on the work done by Prof Robert Keegan (Harvard Business School) – the Constructive developmental approach.
While the work by Dr Joseph Murphy emphasizes harnessing the subconscious through direct mental exercises, Kegan’s developmental psychology focuses on how individuals evolve through stages of consciousness and self-awareness. Kegan’s approach highlights the idea that our mind, including the subconscious, is shaped by ongoing developmental processes throughout life.
Perhaps, combining both the methods provides a more holistic view.
Srikanth is the founder of Vruddhi India, a management consulting firm focused on Change leadership practices. We specialize in guiding companies through the complexities of change in a way that is uniquely personal and customized. You can email me at srikanth.pv@vruddhiindia.com for more information.