The Mystery of the Invisible Elephant

The relationship between the conscious and subconscious mind has been a subject of interest for many psychologists and neuroscientists. While the conscious mind represents the part of our psyche that we are aware of and can actively control, the subconscious mind lies beneath our conscious awareness and is responsible for driving many of our automatic behaviors. Although the two are closely interconnected, they operate in different ways and have unique roles in shaping our thoughts, behaviors, and emotions.

Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, developed a theory that distinguishes between the conscious and the subconscious mind. According to Jung, the conscious mind encompasses our thoughts, feelings, and perceptions that we experience in our waking life. In contrast, the subconscious mind contains repressed emotions, memories, and instincts that influence our thoughts and behaviors without us being aware of it. Jung believed that accessing the subconscious mind was crucial for self-awareness and personal growth.

Later, Jonathan Haidt, a moral psychologist, created an insightful analogy that sheds light on human decision-making, known as the "Rider and the Elephant." In this analogy, the "rider" refers to our conscious and logical mind. The “elephant” in this analogy refers to the subconscious mind. Although we tend to believe that the logical rider is in control, this is not always the case. The elephant is a huge and strong beast; it goes wherever it wants to go and it is difficult to communicate with this elephant because it does not understand human logic or language. It is therefore difficult to change our habits because our subconscious mind is deeply ingrained in our psyche and is responsible for driving many of our automatic behaviors. Our habits are formed through repetition and reinforced by positive rewards, which become deeply embedded in our subconscious mind. Even when we consciously try to change a habit, our subconscious mind resists the change because it perceives it as a threat to our established routine.

Another perspective is explained to us by Dr. Bruce Lipton, a cellular biologist and author who has developed a unique viewpoint on the role of subconscious programming in shaping our lives. According to Lipton, our subconscious mind is responsible for up to 95% of our daily behavior and decision-making, while our conscious mind only accounts for the remaining 5%. This means that much of what we do and think is determined by our subconscious beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions, which are often formed in early childhood. Lipton believes that our subconscious programming is influenced by our environment, including our family, culture, and societal norms. These experiences create deep-seated beliefs that affect how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. In many cases, these beliefs can limit our potential and lead to negative self-talk, self-sabotage, and chronic stress.

To overcome these limitations, Lipton recommends techniques like positive affirmations, visualization, and meditation to reprogram the subconscious mind. By consciously changing our thoughts and beliefs, we can shift our subconscious programming and overcome the negative patterns that have been holding us back. Lipton's work has had a significant impact on the fields of psychology and personal development, and his ideas have helped many people improve their lives by tapping into the power of their subconscious mind.