How well do you know yourself? Really know yourself? Better than anyone else, right? In fact, there’s probably nothing you don’t know about yourself… or so you think consciously.

So here’s my question.

How well do you know your unconscious mind? I purposely call it that because there’s nothing ‘sub’ about it. Your unconscious mind is powerful, amazing and plays the hugest part in every part of your life.

It’s worth considering just what your unconscious mind does for you. With understanding comes a greater awareness, trust and even power to direct and control your life in positive ways.

Functions of the unconscious mind are called the Prime Directives. They’re the things your unconscious mind will prioritize on your behalf and for very good reasons.

Although there are many more than the few I’ll list here, the first one alone should convince you of your Unconscious minds importance.

Preserves the body.

Your unconscious mind wants to preserve the integrity of your body. Its influence is primarily geared to keeping you whole, complete and safe. Without a conscious thought people take immediate action to protect themselves. Your unconscious mind also “breathes” you (amongst many other things) when you’re asleep and awake. Amazing.

Stores Memories

Do you remember a birthday party when you were a child? Last Christmas and where you spent it? Your phone number?

Thank your unconscious mind. There is no way we could remember these things consciously.

Organizes All Your Memories

Your unconscious mind organizes and classifies your memories into experience types and emotional responses. It matches up similarities so that when you’re faced with similar experiences in the future it can pull on a past reference and evoke a suitable response in you.

Your memories are ordered, deleted, generalized and even distorted based on your internal representational system (sorry that’s a mouthful). Then, without thinking (consciously), you have an emotional response and therefore project certain behaviour out onto the world.

Represses Memories With Unresolved Emotions

Do you know what it is to have some memories that are just too hard to handle? You don’t like thinking about them and it’s hurtful or stressful to re-live?

Obligingly your unconscious mind will store them away often where you don’t have to think about it. Consciously you think this is a good coping mechanism so read on.

Presents Suppressed Memories For Resolution

Repressing emotions is one technique the unconscious mind may use to protect the body. Occasionally, however, your unconscious mind can, and will, bring negative memories to the surface. It can be triggered by a similar emotional event or because life is, in fact, going well.

Your unconscious mind knows it would be the best thing for the body if the trauma of the event was to be resolved and released. Negative things stored in the body are never good.

We either take the opportunity to deal with the issue or, feeling out of our depth to cope with it, suppress it back into the body. This is a bit like the old ‘ostrich in the sand’ syndrome.

Runs The Body

Beyond preserving the body your unconscious mind has the blueprint, or plan, of perfect health. Your unconscious mind existed as your body was created and knows exactly what it needs and how it functions at an optimal level.

In our modern society of dis-ease I think this is perhaps the greatest reason for tuning in to your unconscious mind. What are you doing, emotions are you storing, or internal programs are you running that prevents your unconscious mind functioning at it’s full potential?

I’m not suggesting for a moment it’s easy and simple to tune into your unconscious mind. I certainly would encourage you to expand your mind though and learn a little more about it in this day than you did in the last.