Work smarter, not harder

Our book, ‘Become the Boss of You,’ highlights many insights. One treasure trove of wisdom is the latent power of the subconscious mind. Harnessing the subconscious mind unlocks a crucial aspect of effective life management. Unleashing this powerhouse within us can be a secret weapon, a genie that can work with us to attain our wishes.

I want to stress the idea and use of the words “with us” instead of “for us.” The subconscious is part of us, and we are not taskmasters. Learning to utilize this enormous potential in harmony with ourselves instead of sourcing activity from another power outside of ourselves is important; with that in mind, it is important never to lecture the subconscious. Be friendly to yourself. If you lecture your subconscious, you are lecturing yourself. Be nice to it and ask it for help.

Patterns from past successes guide beliefs and emotions, shaping how we navigate life. Routines are fine-tuned to operate seamlessly under the subconscious mind’s guidance.

The usual pattern must follow: First, life hits us with an event or challenge. Next, we figure out how to work through that challenge, usually using our past programs as a basis for success. After that, we may or may not add or modify our beliefs or programs to update them for the future. It’s a great process and certainly needed.

Once we update our beliefs, they operate in the background automatically. That is a cool part of our human heritage. However, it is relatively easy to see that this model of improving our lives is based on our reactions to life events and not necessarily on what we want from life. In addition, this process takes time.

‘Become the Boss of You’ explores methods to leverage the potential of your subconscious mind. Throughout history, numerous influential figures have done just that, and we can also partake in this power with the correct method. This is not merely a concept. It is now accepted that the subconscious mind can serve as a valuable and efficient compass to enrich and reshape our lives.

If we rely on the method of improvement previously outlined alone, we may run out of time before getting the real happiness we deserve from this great gift we call life. Since time marches on, we should ask how we harness the transformative capabilities of our subconscious mind. How can it empower us to become the masters of ourselves? What are some starting points to use this untapped potential to guide us toward success?

Setting goals can help

In the above-given scenario, we respond to life events. This growth pattern involves experiencing a life event, reacting to it, encountering another life event, and reacting again, all while learning from each reaction. Our conscious mind is a bridge to the subconscious, essential for problem-solving.

What if we collaborate with life to initiate specific events? This harmony could enhance our skills and align them with our life goals. We can request our subconscious mind to assist in overcoming life events and aid us in the process. Adopting a dynamic goal-setting approach is practical, but this topic deserves further exploration in another blog.

The easiest way to start

Journaling is the easiest method to tap into your subconscious mind, and its rising popularity is no surprise. Recording our thoughts, we observe how deep-seated emotions and aspirations unfold through the powerful subconscious mind. This process occurs organically, as writing aligns your subconscious with your goals.

In “Become the Boss of You,” we utilize this tool to get close to what we want from life and not just work for what others want us to do. Too many of us go through life trying to succeed but never really spend the needed allocated time on ourselves. That is because of the pressures that others put on us. We want to please them, and that is OK. However, we should also please ourselves. You can start to unlock your superhero within by diving into journaling!

So yes, journaling is one of the easiest and best ways to start using your great subconscious powers, and using “The Workbook for Becoming the Boss of You” is a sure way to stay on track.

Other powerful practices to unlock our potential

In addition to journaling, “Become the Boss of You” explores other techniques for engaging the subconscious mind, such as visualization, affirmations, prayer, meditation, mindfulness, gratitude, deep-dive journaling, and the already mentioned goal setting. Once considered unconventional, these practices are now supported by scientific evidence and embraced by professionals across diverse fields. We will cover some of these in more detail below.

Deep-dive journalling

The book illustrates what we call “deep-dive journaling.” You take your topic, or central idea, and think of it as the trunk of a tree. As you journal and allow your mind to associate, it will travel from the trunk to a main branch of the central idea. Sometimes, it will travel to other branches from off that branch and occasionally even get to a leaf.

Some nights, you might indulge in more free-flowing thinking; on others, you may prefer to stay closer to the core idea. For instance, if the main concept is gratitude, dwelling on negative thoughts about an ex-partner would lead you far off course.

The key consideration is how distant you allow your thoughts to wander from the main topic. Finding the right balance between free association and staying focused is a balancing act. The association process enables the subconscious mind to assist by offering insights that might have escaped notice during the day. The idea of focus helps you learn more about the central idea.

Visualization

Once you begin journaling, you connect with your inner self on a deeper level. This process also naturally leads to visualization. As your time management achievements become evident, you start to visualize and imagine achieving. Gradually, you start feeling the emotions associated with your success, which is often when the magic happens.

So, how does this process work exactly? Through visualization, we create mental images that guide our subconscious mind. These images and emotions inspire us to take action and enhance our concentration. Scientific research supports this, demonstrating that mental imagery activates the neural pathways essential for real performance. In essence, our subconscious mind assists us in this transformative journey.

So, you see, as your journaling becomes enjoyable, you enhance your focus on productivity,

This is quickened when we use the play circuit with our subconscious mind. More on that in a bit.

Mindfulness and Meditation

I affectionately refer to this M&M as a personal touch, finding it enjoyable and a reminder not to set them too far apart. I deeply appreciate both mindfulness practices and guided meditation. I have tailored guided meditations for well-being, prosperity, and joy. These tools have been crucial during challenging moments in my life. Moreover, M&M aids in stress reduction, which I consider the silent adversary, as stress can impede goal achievement.

Anyone reading Become the Boss of You knows I am a big fan of Mindfulness techniques. Focusing on essential life systems to maintain ourselves, like relaxation and breathing, can improve every aspect of our lives when we become good at them. In addition, these mindfulness techniques help us in our mediation practice as well.

The other “M” is also very helpful. Meditating on what we want by sitting quietly and using our mindfulness breath technique can set the stage so we can gently bring our minds back to our intentions when they wander. Similarly to the blog’s beginning, I want to stress the idea and use of the words “gently.” We are not to be cruel masters of our minds. The idea of harmony expressed in dealing with the subconscious also holds here. Be nice to your mind. It will respond far better than if you treat it as if you are a tyrant.

Meditation will help quiet the conscious mind, making it easier for the subconscious to absorb your intentions.

Using play and fun to engage the subconscious when journalling

Embarking on a journaling journey might stir up some jitters for newbies. Our workbook throws in a sprinkle of fun and fantasy to journaling. By weaving in playfulness and excitement, we can unlock hidden dreams and weave them into our everyday lives.

Play is in our DNA, and hey, why wouldn’t our subconscious sync to its beat? Adding a dash of play can keep things fresh as you combine your conscious and unconscious minds.

Find out what you want.

For many, happiness is intertwined with love and relationships, fundamental to our social nature. In “Become the Boss of You,” a crucial aspect involves reflecting on love and friendship during nightly journaling sessions. This practice empowers you to take control of your happiness.

 

Peace, Ishall Dogood

Sources:

1. https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/trust-the-talent/201109/ Psychology Today
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/multimedia/meditation/ Benefits of Meditation