Guest Author - Andrea Gardiner, Ph.D.

Thoughts of the conscious mind summon images of the intellectual and the rational. Reasoning and logical thinking all seems to be the order of the conscious mind. The nature of consciousness and the conscious mind have long been an object of mystery and obscurity to fields of study such as psychology, philosophy and religion. Thus far however, our sense of knowing and awareness has quite accurately been assigned to our conscious mind. We are aware that it is through the function of the conscious mind that we are able to think practically and intelligently. Is this however the only function of the conscious mind, or is it capable of handling more than we give it credit for?

The conscious mind is not only used to analyze complex mathematical equations or ponder profound philosophical questions, but it also plays a role in your most minute and seemingly insignificant decisions. Things such as what to cook for dinner and deciding whether or not to take the freeway, all fall within the compass of the conscious mind. Our conscious mind is highly discriminatory and has been particularly adapted for contemplating and directing external activities. Even those decisions that appear to be unconscious and reflexive by nature are quite conscious. Even though the conscious mind has been long recognized as being the creator of human experience, it simply is not. This is really the portion of the mind that is the director of thought and attention. This task is accomplished via the beliefs or thought patterns that are collected in this area of the mind.

While there are long lists of therapies aimed at unlocking the secrets of the subconscious mind, the real powerhouse lies in the examined and unexamined beliefs lazing around in the conscious mind. It is here that the preferences, goals, desires, and expectations are born. Now because the main function of the conscious mind is to direct attention, it is able to gather its warehouse of beliefs from inner self or inner portions as well as from its exterior or physical environment. This ability to look inwards and outwards gives the conscious mind incredible flexibility. The conscious mind will then use these beliefs to direct its gaze and focus, thus coloring the human experience, if you will.

It is only when the conscious mind is not allowed to gather information from all accessible avenues that it becomes rigid and suffers in its abilities. Nonetheless, the conscious mind is really capable of much more than we give it allowance and is an amazing tool that can spice and enrich our earthly experience.