MIND OVER MATTER

We're told our subconscious quietly governs almost all we do – but can we take control of it? Hannah Ewens finds out

- Hannah Ewens

Have you ever given much thought to the subconscious mind? Until recently, I hadn't. I thought it was a Freudian concept, or something nebulous to do with dreams. Now, my wellness-skewed algorithm throws up the term near daily, and it's crept into conversations with my most normal of friends.

If you listen to any of the leading guest-interview podcasts, such as The Mel Robbins Podcast, Huberman Lab or Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee, you'll hear neuroscience and psychology speakers say that it holds the key to changing our lives. Spirituality and manifestation gurus, even qualified money experts, describe it as our best friend or secret saboteur. Why? Because our subconscious holds beliefs about ourselves and the world.

Maybe you want to be famous but fear public speaking – subconscious beliefs could be holding you back. Can’t secure a job interview? Your subconscious might be blocking your efforts. Struggling to lose weight? You might believe you don’t deserve to. The idea is that even if you consciously want something, conflicting subconscious beliefs can sabotage it.

Take money: say you want £50,000 in the bank but are deep in debt instead. A subconscious belief could be as complex as, “After my dad got a big raise, my parents immediately divorced, so any increase in money feels unsafe,” or as simple as, “I don’t deserve to be happy.” Your subconscious “programming” is shaped by everything that’s happened to you: your habits, life experiences, upbringing and culture.