Do you ever find yourself at the crossroads of decision and wonder, "Why on earth did I do that?" Well, you may have your subconscious mind to thank—or perhaps, to question. This enigmatic part of our brain serves as the backstage director of our lives, subtly pulling strings even when the conscious mind believes it's the one in charge.
Consider the decision-making process as your personal theatre production. Your conscious mind might be the lead actor reciting the lines, but the tireless work of your subconscious has already influenced the script—the director, scriptwriter, and critic all rolled into one. Whether it's choosing a menu item, reacting to a startling noise, or, yes, even taking a drag from a cigarette, your subconscious has likely weighed in, often imperceptibly.
Your subconscious is not some villain in a melodrama sabotaging you just for kicks. Instead, it's programmed to protect and prioritize immediate emotional well-being, even if the ways it does so have detrimental long-term consequences. It's like a zealous guardian that sometimes doesn't know when to quit.
Take the simple but nefarious example of smoking. Someone might light up for the first time out of curiosity or social pressure. However, the subconscious soon takes note of the immediate sensations—be it relief, a dopamine kick, or social camaraderie. These sensations are promptly categorized as 'beneficial,' and just like that, a habit is born. The subconscious mind, focusing on immediate rewards, overlooks the grim procession of health warnings and future risks. For your subconscious, it's about solving today's problems: stress, boredom, or social awkwardness.
For instance, if a dog once bit you as a child, your subconscious mind may have logged that experience as a survival lesson: dogs are dangerous. Years later, you might find yourself tensing up or avoiding dogs altogether, even if your rational, conscious mind understands that not all dogs pose a threat. In this case, the subconscious is acting in what it believes is your best interest, safeguarding you from a perceived danger based on an experience. Many of these deeply rooted subconscious paradigms take shape during our formative years, when our cognitive capacities are still developing. As a result, we may unwittingly base our decisions on flawed reasoning, oblivious to the underlying influences at play.
Now, herein lies the challenge. Your subconscious mind is like an old dog; teaching it new tricks requires more than a wag of a finger and a "no, don't do that." The ingrained patterns need to be replaced carefully with new, positive reinforcements. If smoking provides stress relief, then an alternative stress relief outlet needs to be introduced, recognized, and habituated. It's like teaching your subconscious a new language—one where 'well-being' isn't synonymous with instant gratification but maps onto longer-term health and happiness.
But there's more. Addressing the subconscious isn't just about breaking bad habits. It's about questioning the scripts that have been written for us over years or even decades. Why do we procrastinate? Why do we steer clear of certain types of people or experiences? Carefully answering these questions might offer us a new script, or at least a significant rewrite, that aligns more closely with who we aspire to be rather than who we were programmed to be.
So the next time you find yourself bemused by a choice you've made or a habit you can't shake, remember: the subconscious is always in the rehearsal room, practising its lines. If you want a different performance, you're going to have to work with it on the script. But the result might just be a life that's not merely lived but truly authored by you.
In summary, the subconscious mind gets programmed to endorse harmful habits due to its focus on immediate gratification and emotional well-being, even when these behaviours have long-term negative consequences. Understanding this nuanced interaction can pave the way for more effective strategies to change these deeply ingrained patterns.To reshape these subconscious responses, we need to "speak" to that part of the brain in a language it understands.
Let's Take the First Step Together
If you're seeking change and are ready to break free from the cycles holding you back, I invite you to get in touch. Quitting smoking or vaping is a significant milestone, but imagine what else we could achieve together. Whether it's building new habits, improving your self-esteem, or simply living a happier life, I'm here to guide and support you. Reach out today, and let's embark on this transformative journey together.
We know from extensive studies that it is common for people who use tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs (TAOD) to experience stigma and discrimination. Stigma can decrease willingness to disclose TAOD use and lead to decreased self-esteem, with significant adverse effects for the individual, their family and community. Essentially - we do not want to feel judged or be placed in Shame, a very toxic and debilitating emotion. I am not here to do that; I am here to help facilitate retraining your brain like I have helped hundreds of others so you can live your best life. Shame free.
Sources:
https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2020/march/how-stigmatising-language-affects-people-in-au stra
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370060748_Subconscious_Mind_Paradigms