The subconscious could be described as an Organic Computer, in that, like a computer, you give it “programs” and it executes them to the letter. Also, like a Computer, it can get a little confused at times! However, the thing to focus on here is the Programming part. The subconscious is quite obedient – but only in the parameters of what you’ve already programmed and also what instructions you give it most of the time. It will always act upon the most used Instructions first – otherwise it would get confused or feel it might be putting you in danger. So if you’re previous programs about crossing the road were “I must do this safely” and every now and then you like to play “chicken” (i.e. dodge the traffic!) your subconscious will probably react to that and cause you to feel confused and/or scared.

Anyway, to cut a long story short (“too late” I hear you cry! ) the way we program our Subconscious is by repeating instructions to ourselves, and boy do we do that all the time. We’re also so used to the internal dialogue going on that we often don’t realise that we’re continuing to program the subconscious whilst doing every day things!

The subconscious listens out for statements that start with the word “I”:

I am
I must
I always
I will
I won’t
I can
I can’t
I have to
I hate
Etc etc

So as we go through the day saying things to ourselves, both consciously and unconsciously, we are continuing to program our subconscious mind. This is why it is so important to pay attention to the present moment – because it is only in the present moment that we can hear (or realise) how we are programming ourselves. If we’re thinking about the past or the future, we’re not really thinking about what words we’re using. Further, we’re also acting upon old programs within the subconscious to view the past and present.

Let’s take an example: Let’s say, in the past ,you’ve had an experience where you had a dreadful meeting and you came out of it thinking “I’m just not very confident in meetings”. So, you’re thinking about the upcoming meeting you need to attend and the subconscious searches through the programming to find something that relates to it. Bingo! The “I’m not very confident when in meetings” program gets activated! So you go to the meeting feeling very un-confident and you leave the meeting reinforcing the program with “See – I’m not very confident in meetings”. And so the loop continues.

So think about this phrase: I’ll deal with what’s going on now, and worry about that later. Aaargh! Can you see the program there?! “I’ll worry about that later”. How many times have you heard someone – or even yourself (!) – saying that! The thing to remember is the subconscious will always comply to this kind of programming. So when it gets to later, it can cause you to feel worry about whatever it is you are dealing with.

All it takes is paying attention to how you’re feeling (which is the guidance to you to show you how and what you’re thinking). Your feelings are like the lights on a dashboard. When you don’t feel good, you’re thinking things that are causing you to feel that way.

It won’t take many tweaks to change the words you’re thinking, although it will probably take practice and it will definitely take tenacity and patience. This is where things like affirmations are so useful and helpful. When you hear yourself repeating an unhelpful programming phrase, use an affirmation to alter it. Instead of “I’m not confident in meetings” change it to “I’m growing more and more confident in meetings”.

Find words and phrases that work for you. Your subconscious may not always believe a complete contradiction, such as “I’m brilliant and super-confident in meetings”, but a gradual phrase like the one above can be more believable. Then, as you continue to grow more confident, you can then change it to “I have gained so much confidence in myself in meetings” and so on.

So let’s let go of this phrase “I’ll worry about that later” (and other such unhelpful programming!) and change it to “I’ll deal with that later”. Change your thoughts. Change your Programming. Change your life.