Have you ever lost your cell phone, and after a long search stopped to attend to something else only to then suddenly remember where you last put it?

Or maybe one day, you found an old toy or article of clothing from your past, and old memories surrounding it came flooding back to you all at once.

These are incidences of your subconscious retrieving information.

Our subconscious mind holds so much information, it would be impossible to keep it in the focus of the conscious mind all times.

Your subconscious mind is always working, listening, functioning and we are completely unaware. It is like a computer program running in the background, compiling data and running processes unbeknownst to the conscious mind. The subconscious stores all of our memories, experiences, places we’ve been, people we’ve met, beliefs, and skills we have acquired. And it is also the source of creativity, inner knowing, and inspiration. 

However it isn’t always easy to immediately access this information.

If you want to remember something, it’s important to relax. During physical relaxation the brainwaves slowdown and the mind is more receptive to recall. This explains why when feeling stressed while taking exams, it’s difficult to remember answers to questions you fully know. The answer is there, but stress is short circuiting your mind.

There is a well known story about the way Thomas Edison would utilize his subconscious to answer problems that he could not readily consciously answer. Edison would sit in a rocking chair holding two red rubber balls in each hand and while contemplating the mechanics of the unsolved problem, allow himself to nod off into sleep. As his body relaxed, his subconscious mind took over processing the puzzle. His body then reached a point of relaxation where his hands released the two rubber balls which dropped to the ground making a noise that woke him. And thus he woke with the answer that his subconscious provided. 

Also, it is well-documented that truths about ourselves can be revealed in our nighttime dreams. This is because the conscious mind is turned off while asleep, and the subconscious allowed to reveal itself. The study of dreams and subconscious is covered greatly by neurologist, Sigmund Freud’s work, as well as Psychiatrist, Carl Jung. They indicated that interesting and valuable insights into our behavior and wellbeing can be learned by paying attention to the symbolic nature of dreams. 

Perhaps that dream about eating liver and onions means you are actually low and B vitamins and iron. Or those nightmares about falling may indicate  that you actually feel you’ve lost control of some aspect of your life.

Sometimes a conflict of interest can cause a memory block. For example, if you don’t really want to do something or go somewhere, you may conveniently forget.

Memories of unfinished business will take advantage of unused energy. This may explain why memories come to the forefront of your consciousness unexpectedly.

When this happens try to observe the memory without criticism, and try to use your reason tried to understand why it came to your awareness. Allow yourself time to process it.

The subconscious is conditioned by voices of authority and experience. It is through this conditioning that we learn appropriate behavior, what is true and false, and generally how to function in the world. This is how your subconscious learns the beliefs about yourself, true or untrue, that may build you up or break you down.

You may think you are aware of these subconscious beliefs, but this is not always the case.  

So, how can you influence your subconscious for greater control of your reactions, responses to stimuli, and release unwanted conditioning and thinking that no longer serves you?

Affirmations, the repeated mantra of a desired thought or behavior pattern, is one method. It does sometimes work over time. Because the subconscious works in the Present, It’s important to phrase affirmations in the present tense. 

Example Affirmation: “I am always attracting wealth.”

(Sometimes this works, but then sometimes your mind responds with excuses.)

I found the best method to influence and work with your subconscious, is to simply ask it clear direct questions. Ask your subconscious what to do to get what you want. Example: “How can I attract wealth?” 

And amazingly, you will get an answer almost immediately!

It’s important not to dismiss or edit what answer you receive, rather plan, then act on it. Acting on the answer received will also encourage your “subconscious super computer” to provide more guidance as needed.