Intro to The Subconscious Mind

    It's been seven years, I've completed a journey that Cambell himself would be proud of and I return with new knowledge. Without wasting any more words, the subconscious (unconscious for the Freudians) is something each and every one of us engages with, all the time, within ourselves and others, whether we like it or not. It's split into our ego (daily you), our superego (our conscience) and our id (drives and instincts).

    What isn't communicated enough, is that our primary waking experience is mostly driven by those subconscious forces -and they are currents much stronger than reason. Those aspects of ourselves largely frame our personality and perceptions, from just out of sight, while also providing the emotional backing behind why we do what we do and say what we say.

    We feel cramped, so we seek escape. We get uncomfortable, nervous, nauseous for some inexplicable reason and we reason our way through it or avoid entirely. In other situations, we get excited and enthusiastic about something and go out of our way to do that thing. We serve our drives through our egos, the mask that we show everybody else. It's an image crafted by us and largely serves as a mediator, especially in the age of digital media.

    I've worked directly with individuals in the mental health field for over a decade now and whether residential, clinical, or as part of an outreach team, I find myself constantly settling in as an advocate of reflection. I think being aware of our strengths and limitations is the only place to start. We are all just as equally capable of liberation and destruction. We are all equally capable liberating and destroying others, sometimes even more so.

    So, I wonder, why do we avoid going out with friends even though we crave socialization? Why do we run toward that which we know, logically, will not serve us well in the long run? Are we trading our deepest values for second rate experiences? Is it actually all okay and you just need to chill and get some sunshine. I really want to find out, and I'm happy to report that, in many ways, there couldn't be a better time to try to do so.

    Talk again soon.