Change the way you look at things
The subconscious refers to that part of consciousness that we are unaware of. It is information that we are not actively aware of in the moment...
The subconscious refers to that part of consciousness that we are unaware of. It is information that we are not actively aware of in the moment, but influences us nonetheless, such as things that are heard, seen or remembered.
Subconscious thoughts are automatic so we don’t get to choose or challenge them. Therefore becoming aware of the negative automatic thoughts we have is useful in understanding why we think, feel and behave the way we do.
Teenagers, in particular, are prone to negative automatic thoughts. Unlike adults, who think with the prefrontal cortex (the brain’s rational part), teens process information with the amygdala (the emotional part). This is why when a teenager becomes emotional, they can’t often explain what they were thinking.
When a teenager gives his number to a girl but does not hear back, he might automatically think “No girl will ever like me!” He might feel rejected and in future is more cautious about sharing his number. In most cases a teen will be able to replace the negative thought with a constructive one: “Perhaps she lost my number.” Or “I’m sure I’ll meet someone.” When we change the way we look at things, it doesn’t always look the same.
There are others who might not be able to do this and instead rehash the same thought repeatedly without anything ever changing. This is known as rumination: when we continuously think about the same thoughts which tend to be sad or dark and can be unhealthy. This can prolong and intensify a depressive mind and impair our ability to think and process emotions.
It takes practice to try and focus on what thoughts go through our minds. Like most things, if you know what you are looking for, it’s easier to spot. When we have repeated patterns of negative thinking, they are called ‘cognitive distortions. These are biases in our minds that cause irrational behaviour, and we unknowingly reinforce these thoughts and beliefs until they become a part of our everyday thinking.
