You need to be viscerally lucid, acutely aware of the content you're feeding your brain and allowing your subconscious to digest. 

Why do I say this?

Not long ago, I was scrolling through my Twitter feed (that’s still the name, right?) and I stumbled upon a video captioned "How I lost my dream job". The narrator began recounting an anxious tale of getting their dream job and then being plagued by imposter syndrome until they ended up losing it – one of those self-fulfilling prophecy kind of situations. It was sad. It was unfortunate. Most of all, it was very real. I mean, who hasn’t doubted themselves before? 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I felt sad for this stranger, and I wished there was something I could do to help even a little bit. But halfway through the video, I had a sudden awakening: "Why am I subjecting myself to this?". It was doing nothing but dragging me down, stealing my empathy and entangling me in a web of negativity. Worst of all, I didn’t even deliberately choose to watch it, it was just kind of playing automatically and I found myself tuning in.

As I sat there, involuntarily putting myself in their shoes, I felt a drain on my energy. And for what? The realization struck me: There are precious few things we have control over in life, but one thing we can absolutely command is what we consume mentally. 

Take a moment to genuinely reflect on this. Most people don't even consider questioning the input into their minds. They morph into clueless zombies, unwittingly allowing a diet of utter nonsense to infiltrate their subconscious. I don’t say that to put anyone down – I’ve been the clueless zombie myself.

I'm the kind of person who is very sensitive to the environment and atmosphere around me. When seated at a restaurant, overhearing conversations that are sad or negative, I won't hesitate to find another seat somewhere else. No, I don’t think the world revolves around me, but I’ll tell you why this matters.

Have you any idea of how astonishingly simple it is to manipulate the subconscious? 

Seriously, the things that exert influence go beyond what you can fathom – the level of sunlight in a room, the temperature, even the tone of the last text you received, positive or negative. These seemingly minuscule factors subtly sway your mood on a microscopic scale. 

Consider the power of advertising. Advertisers are well aware of the subconscious mind's pliability. Through carefully crafted messages, visuals, and sounds, they aim to bypass our conscious filters and implant desires and associations directly into our subconscious. Have you ever found yourself craving a particular snack or drawn to a product without fully comprehending why? That's the result of the subconscious being nudged by clever marketing tactics.

Likewise, the content we consume has a profound impact on our subconscious. Whether it's news, entertainment, or social media, the ideas and narratives presented seep into our mental landscape, shaping our perspectives and beliefs. This is where mindfulness becomes crucial. Being conscious of the content we consume allows us to safeguard our subconscious from undue manipulation.

Why does the subconscious matter?

The role of your subconscious mind revolves around the storage and retrieval of data. Its primary responsibility is to guarantee that your responses align precisely with your programming. 

In essence, your subconscious mind molds your words and actions to conform to a pattern that mirrors your self-concept – the core blueprint of your "master program."

In fact, upon reaching the age of 21, your mind has already imprinted over one hundred times the volume of knowledge present in the entire Encyclopedia Britannica.

Interestingly, through hypnosis, individuals in their later years can often effortlessly recall events from 50 years earlier, with vivid accuracy. Your unconscious memory is akin to a flawless archive.

All that is to say: your subconscious does a lot. 

In your subconscious mind is what we call a homeostatic impulse. It maintains your body temperature at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, just like it keeps you breathing without you having to think about it and keeps your heart beating at a certain rate per minute. 

Through your autonomic nervous system, it maintains a balance among the hundreds of chemicals in your billions of cells so that your entire physical machine functions in complete harmony most of the time. 

Your subconscious mind also exercises this balance in your mental realm, by keeping you thinking and acting in a manner consistent with what you have done and said in the past. All your habits of thinking and acting are stored in your subconscious mind. It has memorized all your comfort zones and it works to keep you in them.

You know those times when you catch yourself thinking or acting in a way that feels totally familiar? That's your subconscious mind working its homeostasis game. It's keeping you cruising along the mental tracks you've laid down with your past choices and behaviors. So, when it comes to your mental habits, your subconscious is all about maintaining the status quo.

The most successful people are always stretching themselves outside of their comfort zones. They are very aware how quickly the comfort zone can become a rut. They seem to have an awareness that complacency is the great enemy of creativity and future opportunities. 

That’s why you need to be very careful about the information you subject your subconscious to. You want to be in control of your master script, not a slave to it.

By that, I mean you should take charge of your mental diet just as you would your physical one. Your subconscious is too valuable to be filled with junk.

Think of it like curating an art collection. Would you hang mindless graffiti on the walls of a prestigious gallery? No. You'd carefully choose pieces that evoke emotions, inspire thoughts, and reflect your values. Similarly, each piece of content you let into your mental gallery should be scrutinized.

Does it uplift? Does it inform? Does it resonate with your aspirations? If not, it's time to declutter the mental space.

It's not just about conversations; it's about every word, every interaction. I'm not advocating for neurotic obsession, nor am I saying should you become a hypochondriac of the mind. Instead, be discerning in your choices. Be selective about what you allow into your mental realm. Put an end to mindlessly consuming trash. Cultivate lucidity.

Now, am I suggesting a complete information fast or a dogmatic refusal of anything that doesn't fit your current worldview? Not at all. It's about conscious consumption. Engage with diverse perspectives, challenge your assumptions, but do so with intention. Be aware of how even seemingly harmless indulgences, like binge-watching sensationalist news or scrolling through negativity-laden comment sections, seep into your subconscious and mold your outlook.

The Crown and your Mind

Now, if you’re like me – you probably lack this kind of discernment not because you’re undisciplined, but because you’re unable to focus.

Thankfully, I know one way to enhance my focus on the things that matter: the Crown.

Picture this: You're navigating the bustling landscape of modern life, juggling tasks, notifications, and distractions left and right. Amid this whirlwind, you're seeking a sanctuary of focus – a zone where what truly matters can take center stage. That's where the Crown steps in.

It’s a game-changer in the art of enhancing your concentration and honing in on the things that truly matter.

The beauty of the Crown lies in its subtlety. It's not a dominator; it's a gentle guide. It doesn't impose rigidity; it fosters flexibility. It's not a distraction; it's an enhancer. It's the tool that empowers you to reclaim your attention, direct it like a laser beam, and align with your passions, tasks, and aspirations.

So there you have it…

Remember, the subconscious doesn't discriminate between junk and treasure. It absorbs all, whether beneficial or toxic. So, become the gatekeeper. Filter out the noise. Surround yourself with ideas, stories, and information that nurture growth and positivity. In a world inundated with noise, be the one who crafts a symphony within your subconscious – a harmonious composition that elevates your life.