The Other 90%

Posted on February 26, 2008 by Ronald T. Brown, Ph.D.

Research has shown we tend to use 10-20% of our brain power… so what about the other 80-90%?  Much of this unused brain power resides in capacity of our

subconscious

mind.  ** So what makes up the “subconscious” mind – and how can it be effectively used?

The Conscious Mind

:
The conscious mind is where our logical and rational thinking takes place.  This is the area of our brain that chooses whether to buy a television with a 50” screen or a 65” screen, and is the part of our mind that remembers (or forgets) your spouse’s birthday.  The conscious mind is where our moment-by-moment decisions are made throughout the day.

The Subconscious Mind

:
The subconscious is where our instinctive, intuitive, wisdom, and values based “reactions” spring from. Our subconscious forever stores our values, beliefs, and experiences which are later used to influence and guide the decisions made the conscious part of our mind (though it’s influence often goes unnoticed.)  

In addition

, the subconscious mind operates many of the ongoing functions of our body – like our heartbeat, digestive system, growth and repair of our bodies, and so on.  Our conscious mind does not pay much attention to these activities because they are all naturally regulated by the inner resource of our subconscious mind.

** But one critical characteristic of the subconscious is that it also serves as an intense “goal-seeking” machine.  The subconscious will strive to attain any goal or command given to it by the “conscious” part of our mind.  In this way, our subconscious mind is very “programmable,” for once it has been assigned a goal, or task to complete, it will work day and night behind the scenes to make that goal a reality.

I live in central Illinois, where some of the richest soil in the United States is located.  During the planting season each spring, farmers can be seen working late into the night planting seed in the fertile black soil.  And each fall, it is amazing how the rich Illinois soil produces a generous and bountiful crop. 

Our subconscious is very much like the black soil in which these farmers plant their seeds each spring.  As with soil, the subconscious readily accepts whatever seeds are planted into it – whether good or bad.  Just as the rich soil in central Illinois will accept seeds of corn as readily as the seeds of poison ivy, so will the subconscious readily accept what is planted into it, whether good or bad – for our subconscious mind does not have the power to reject what is sent to it by the conscious mind.  If your conscious mind allows, the subconscious mind will embrace destructive beliefs, thoughts, and goals just as readily as positive ones.  And whatever is planted in your sub-conscious

will

produce fruit.

One of the Universal Laws which govern creation is “whatever a person plants, so shall they reap” (Galatians 6:7) - whether it be seeds in the soil, or thoughts in the mind.  As this Law demands, whatever is planted in our subconscious mind will produce fruit.  This is why people experience “self-fulfilling prophecies,” for seeds planted in their subconscious mind from thoughts like: “I will never be rich,” “I will never be happy in our marriage,” “I have made too many mistakes to ever be successful or happy,” or even “I am not smart enough to learn how to use the VCR” eventually bear fruit and become our reality.

Your subconscious mind will readily accept whatever your conscious mind decrees.  If you say, “I can’t afford it,” your subconscious mind will work to make it true.  If you tell yourself, “I am ugly,” your subconscious will ensure this becomes a reality.  If you think “I will never be able to kick my bad habit,” your subconscious mind will make sure you never will – for “what you write on the inside, you will experience on the outside” – Joseph Murphy, PhD.  And “according to your belief, so will it done unto you.” – Jesus Christ.

So how do we use our subconscious in a positive way

?  We do this by continually, and intentionally, feeding our mind with seeds of affirming faith, belief, and positive goals.  We must continually renew our mind by feeding it with affirming

truths

about ourselves, and then develop daily disciplines which will drive these truths deep into our subconscious mind.  This is where a courageous war will be fought.  For this will be the battlefield on which the seeds of your dreams will either be protected and nurtured, or washed away by destructive thoughts of fear and doubt.

Remember

:
“Whether you think you can or think you can’t – you are right.” – Henry Ford
“We become what we think about.” – Earl Nightengale
“A man is what he thinks about all day long.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” – King Solomon

** What you expect to happen usually does - because your subconscious mind will naturally work to bring into reality any belief or goal you tend to focus on… thus the inherent power of the subconscious mind.  You will use it for your gain - or experience dire loss by neglecting it.