What Does the Unconscious Mind Do?

What the Unconscious (aka the ‘Subconscious’) Mind Does

1. Stores Memories & Emotions Every experience you’ve had—especially those with strong emotions—is stored in your unconscious mind. Even memories you can’t consciously recall still influence you today.

2. Shapes Beliefs & Habits Most of your beliefs about yourself and the world were formed early in life. Your unconscious mind uses these beliefs to build habits and patterns that run automatically in the background.

3. Keeps You “Safe" It tries to protect you by keeping you in familiar territory. This can mean avoiding discomfort, risk, or even success—if it feels unfamiliar or unsafe based on past experiences.

4. Drives Autopilot Behaviors From brushing your teeth to reacting emotionally, many day-to-day actions are handled by the unconscious mind —so you don’t have to think about them.

How the Unconscious Mind Operates

Always Active: Even when you’re asleep, your unconscious mind is still processing, learning, and managing internal functions.

Literal & Suggestible: It doesn’t think critically like your conscious mind. It takes things literally—especially when you’re in a relaxed or emotional state—and responds well to repetition. Thinks in Symbols & Emotion: It communicates through images, feelings, and patterns, rather than logic or language.

How You Can Influence the Unconscious Mind

Yes—you can work with it, and that’s where the transformation begins. Here are two powerful ways to reprogram the unconscious mind:

1. Affirmations

What they are: Positive, present-tense statements like “I am confident,” or “I trust myself.”

How they work: When repeated consistently—especially with emotion and belief—affirmations begin to replace old patterns with new, empowering ones.

Tips for making them effective: Repeat them daily. Say them during relaxed moments (just before sleep or upon waking). Pair them with vivid mental imagery and strong emotion.

2. Hypnotic Suggestions

What they are: Carefully worded, positive suggestions delivered while in a deeply relaxed, focused state—such as during hypnosis or guided meditation.

Why they’re powerful: When the conscious mind is calm, the unconscious mind becomes more open and receptive. This allows new, supportive ideas to take root without resistance.

Example: “Each time you take a deep breath; you feel more in control. Your body relaxes, and your mind becomes calm and clear.”

Final Thought

Your unconscious mind is not your enemy—it’s your most loyal, protective ally. It simply needs new instructions. When you begin to work with it—rather than against it—you unlock a powerful path to lasting change, emotional freedom, and true self-alignment.

Transforming Midlife - April 2025