The unconscious mind is often overlooked, yet it plays a significant role in shaping your thoughts, emotions and behaviours. Modern psychology continues to explore its importance, building on the foundational ideas of Freud while moving beyond them with new evidence and approaches. Freud’s work introduced the concept of the unconscious, describing it as a hidden reservoir of thoughts and feelings outside our immediate awareness.
In this blog post, I’ll be talking about the following:
- How unconscious thinking guides routine tasks and automatic behaviours
- How it’s shaped by your past experiences and emotional responses
- How it heavily influences your decision-making abilities (and biases)
- What you can do to start paying attention to your unconscious thoughts
In the Yale Introduction to Psychology short course I’m taking, Paul Bloom talks about just how much these early ideas still influence our understanding of human behaviour. Freud may not have gotten everything right (Paul has a lot to say about what Freud got wrong – all valid points). However, what Freud got right was his views of the unconscious mind. These theories continue to influence far more of our daily lives than we might realise.
Your Unconscious Mind Needs More Attention
The unconscious mind consists of mental processes that occur without conscious awareness. It holds memories, emotions and habits formed through past experiences. A 2008 ScienceDaily study on unconscious decision-making shows these unconscious processes influence many of our decisions. This influence is not always negative, but understanding it better can help us make more intentional choices.
How Your Unconscious Mind Shapes Your Life
The unconscious mind impacts every area of your life, often in the background. Here are some key ways it influences your daily experiences:
Automatic Habits and Behaviors
Have you ever driven home and realised you don’t remember the journey? Or open a bar of chocolate, only to suddenly notice it’s all gone? Ok, the last one’s probably just me. Still, that’s your unconscious mind at work, guiding routine tasks without requiring active thought. While this efficiency is helpful, it can also mean harmful habits such as negative self-talk become deeply ingrained. Recognising these patterns is the first step to change.
Emotional Responses
Many of your emotional reactions are shaped by past experiences stored in your unconsciousness. A fear of public speaking might stem from a childhood memory of being embarrassed in front of a crowd, for example. Once you take a closer look at these roots, it gets easier to start reframing how you respond to triggers.
Decision-Making and Biases
The unconscious mind heavily influences decisions, often through implicit biases. These biases can affect your relationships, career choices and self-perception – in good ways and less-than-healthy ways. Bringing these biases into conscious awareness allows you to make more intentional choices.
Why Awareness Matters
Giving more attention to your unconscious thought patterns can unlock personal growth and emotional resilience. By understanding its role, you can:
1) Break free from automatic behaviours that no longer serve you.
2) Address unresolved emotional baggage.
3) Make more conscious, values-driven decisions.
Mindfulness and therapy are powerful tools for accessing and reshaping unconscious patterns. Techniques like journaling, visualisation and cognitive behavioural approaches can help bring unconscious influences into the light.
Practical Steps to Start Paying Attention
Some of the things you can do to start listening to what’s going on in your mind include the following:
Practice Mindfulness
Regular mindfulness exercises such as meditation help you observe your thoughts and emotions without judgment. Over time, this can reveal patterns rooted in the unconscious.
Reflect Through Journaling
Writing about your thoughts and experiences can uncover hidden beliefs and emotions influencing your behaviour.
Get Professional Advice
Working with a therapist can provide deeper insights into your unconscious state of mind and offer guidance on how to deal with challenges.
What happens in your mind is more than just a passive background noise. Your mind is an active force shaping your life in ways you might not realise. By giving your unconscious mind the attention it deserves, you can uncover hidden patterns, address unresolved issues and create meaningful change.
