You’re probably familiar with how your subconscious mind sometimes sets out to sabotage your conscious mind. This is not to say that you have a split personality, but the subconscious mind does play an important mind in you getting what you want.
A long time ago, the subconscious mind was mostly responsible for your safety. It controlled the fight or flight syndrome where, if you were faced with imminent danger, you needed to make a split-second decision on whether to stay put or run like hell. One didn’t have time to think about what to do, they just had to make a decision and do it.
However, today, through research, study, and best-selling personal development books we now know that the subconscious mind controls a lot more than just the fight or flight syndrome. While the subconscious mind remembers events and experiences from your past, it also doesn’t know the difference between what is actually real or not.
And the subconscious mind is directing a lot more than you may realize.
Living in your conscious mind is where you are truly awake and where you want to spend your time.
The subconscious is made up of events and stories, some real and some not, primarily from the past, but the conscious mind is completely present in every moment.
Here are a few good tips on how to live in your conscious mind.
Live in the Moment
How many times have you found yourself thinking about an altercation that occurred yesterday while almost simultaneously switching over and worrying about something that might happen next week? When that happens you are not living in the moment.
When you are living in the moment — whether you’re driving your teen somewhere or washing a dish — you are truly present to your conscious mind.
If you are driving with your teen, for example, be present with him or her. Notice the way her hair falls or how he has a little bit of a crooked smile when he grins. Be present to the person right in front of you in the moment.
If you are washing dishes, feel the warmth of the water, smell the scent of the soap. I find that when I’m chopping vegetables and truly present to what I’m doing, that it is almost like a meditation for me.
When you notice that your mind has drifted off toward something else other than what you are doing at the moment, simply notice, and bring it back to the present. It may take you awhile to master living in the moment, but it is well worth the practice to do so.
Try Meditating
If you really want to program your conscious mind to stay in the present moment, try using meditation. Meditating will help you differentiate between the subconscious and the conscious mind and you’ll learn how to take more control of your conscious mind on a moment-by-moment basis.
Don’t worry about the “right” way to do meditation. You can meditate in any way that works for you.
The idea behind meditation is to empty your mind in the moment in order to allow your deeper thoughts to surface. When you discover your mind drifting — and it will — you simply bring it back to the present moment.
Throughout your day you may want to try “mini-meditations” where if you find your mind drifting off in a dozen different directions, stop whatever you are doing and take just a moment to bring yourself back to the present moment or task at hand.
You may need to simply notice your breathing or to count until you’ve come back to the present.
Make a Choice
No matter what is going on around you, you always have a choice as to how you feel at any given moment and you also have a choice as to how long to feel that way. We call this “raising your vibration.”
As you train your conscious mind to become aware of how you are feeling in any given moment, you’ll be able to, eventually, without even thinking about it, bring yourself into the present moment by simply making the choice to do so and choosing to feel good.
When living consciously, in the present moment, you can choose to look at any ending as a new beginning, and a closed door as a way to find an open window. Choosing your own thoughts is a great way to program your conscious mind to always be living in the moment.
The law of attraction also works within your subconscious mind but that’s a topic for another day.
Publisher of Great Living Today, your one-stop source for greater living featuring tips, techniques, and programs in the areas of health & wellness, wealth, time management, business, love, relationships, and happiness. Marty is a life, business, and wellness coach helping his clients to live their best lives.