The power of the subconscious: understanding what shapes our thoughts and behaviours
2 min read
We sometimes have the impression that we know exactly why we think, feel or act in a certain way. Yet a great deal of what we do happens automatically, without our being fully aware of it.
This is where the subconscious comes in.
The conscious and the subconscious: what is the difference?
The conscious mind is what we are aware of in the moment: our thoughts, our decisions, our ability to analyse a situation, to reflect, and to make deliberate choices.
The subconscious, for its part, encompasses the processes that unfold outside our immediate attention. Through our experiences, the brain learns, forms associations and develops automatic responses that can shape how we perceive certain situations and how we react to them.
This is why it is sometimes possible to consciously want to change something… while feeling that another part of us is resisting.
We might know rationally that we are capable of speaking in public, yet feel anxiety rise automatically when the moment comes. We might want to feel more confident, and still find ourselves repeating familiar patterns of doubt or avoidance.
Why the subconscious matters in RTT
Rapid Transformational Therapy (RTT) sets out to explore the beliefs, associations and interpretations that may be connected to certain emotional or behavioural patterns.
The aim is not simply to tell ourselves consciously "I need to change", but to better understand what may be fuelling an automatic reaction.
Some beliefs may have been formed out of early experiences and continue to influence how we see things today, even when the context has changed.
By becoming aware of these associations and working to give them new meaning, RTT aims to encourage thoughts and responses better suited to present-day reality.
Change often begins with a better understanding of ourselves: recognising what is at work in the background can allow us to stop running on automatic alone, and to move forward more consciously.