Our body and our mind are two distinct parts of what makes us who we are. Think of a computer CPU. It has the motherboard, RAM, graphics card, power supply, and more. But none of it works unless there’s an operating system — software that tells this hardware what and how to do anything. Without it, the whole system is useless.
Our body is exactly the same. It’s made up of organs like the heart, stomach, veins, blood, and muscles. But without the mind, it’s just an idle machine. You can’t even move a finger unless your mind commands it.
When the brain completely stops working, it’s called brain death — and that’s legally considered clinically dead, even if the heart is still beating with the support of any machine.
Note: We will refer to the conscious mind as ‘Logical Mind’ from this point onwards.
Understanding the Mind
Let’s get this clear — we’re not talking about the brain here. The brain is a physical organ made up of neurons, blood vessels, chemicals, and electrical activity. But we’re going deeper into the realm of the Mind, the non-physical aspect that operates through the brain.
The mind has two major aspects:
- Conscious Mind – The logical, analytical part of your brain that makes decisions and takes actions.
- Subconscious Mind – The emotional, reactive part that stores habits, beliefs, and responds automatically based on how it has been programmed.
You need to understand the role of each of these minds if you wish to change yourself towards your best self.
Key Differences Between the Logical and Subconscious Mind
The logical and subconscious mind have different roles in our lives, yet they work seamlessly together to achieve our goals. Sometimes, due to certain mental disturbances, this coordination is weakened, thus creating mental health issues. Let’s understand the role of these two first.
| Logical Mind | Subconscious Mind |
|---|---|
| 1. Decision Making | |
| The logical mind can make decisions and execute them by itself. It uses logic and reasoning to decide. | Subconscious mind can only influence or suggest a decision to the logical mind, but cannot execute it. It uses emotions, feelings, and beliefs to suggest decisions. |
| 2. Future Orientation | |
| The logical mind always attempts to execute a decision that provides benefits in the long run, regardless of whether it benefits right now or not. | The subconscious mind often focuses on survival, benefits, and instant gratification for the present moment, unless it has been properly trained. |
| 3. Learning & Training | |
| Logical mind learns through books, study, thinking and various forms of “knowledge”. | The subconscious gets trained through repetition. The repeated exposure of actions, words, sight, experiences, and beliefs. |
Job & Responsibilities of the Subconscious Mind & the Logical Mind
The logical mind has a straightforward job — to help you make day-to-day decisions. When you’re eating, driving, talking, or operating any device, it’s the logical mind that’s running the show. It tells your body what to do, when to do it, and how. Like, lift the spoon, press the button, take the next turn — all of that is handled by logic and conscious awareness.
The subconscious mind plays a completely different game. Its job is survival. It keeps your heart beating and lungs breathing without asking for your permission. You don’t think before breathing, do you? That’s because it doesn’t involve your thinking mind. Same when you touch something hot — your hand pulls back even before your brain catches up. These are reflexes, and your subconscious runs the show.
The Self-Talk: Who’s Talking to Whom?
Have you ever talked to yourself?
You attempt an activity but immediately second-guess yourself, engaging in internal debate. You “converse” with yourself about a particular decision. On one hand, you think the idea is good, on the other hand, you oppose yourself, telling yourself all the things that could go wrong.
It’s funny, right? Talking to yourself?
But think about it — a real conversation needs two sides. So who’s the other person inside your head?
So what’s happening here?
It’s your subconscious trying to influence your logical mind, and your logical mind trying to stand its ground. This back-and-forth is what we call self-talk. If the subconscious wins, your logical mind adjusts course. If not, the original decision stands.
Take this example: You spot someone attractive across the street. Your logical mind notices — she checks all the boxes. You’re ready to approach and start a conversation. But then…
Your subconscious whispers: “She’s out of your league. What if she laughs at you? What if it goes horribly wrong?”
Now the fight or self-talk starts. Your logical mind is willing to take this risk because it knows the reward will be worth it, but your subconscious won’t allow such a risk. It wants everything to go perfectly, and even if there is a 0.1% chance of failure, it won’t take the risk. The debate continues, and eventually, one mind will overpower the other.
Here comes the million-dollar question: In the example above, which mind overpowers the other?
If you understood how one mind overpowers another, it won’t take much time for you to attain success.
Effect of the Subconscious Mind on Our Lives
Both our minds want what’s best for us, but the problem is that the definition of “best” varies among them. The logical mind, as the name suggests, uses logic and reasoning to make decisions. It can make decisions for our future. Our subconscious uses experience and beliefs. It doesn’t care about logic — it only focuses on survival and immediate comfort.
Training of Minds
Both our minds get trained daily. Logical mind gets its training through the normal flow of life, schools, books, documentaries, and everything that we use to actively “learn”. When an average person starts saying they’re fit, despite being overweight, the logical mind will outright reject it.
If you read books about risk-taking or business, your logical mind will understand that you need to risk one thing or the other for success, and it will do it when the time is right.
The subconscious mind is deeply affected by suggestions and, rather than questioning them, it generally accepts and acts upon them to fulfill your desires.
The subconscious mind is trained through emotions, feelings, and beliefs. Focus on the word “belief”. I’m not talking about religion here. By belief, I mean what YOU believe to be true, whether you have proof of its truth or not.
Belief is an important concept when understanding how the subconscious mind works.
Learn more about how a belief is formed and how it changes the way we look at ourselves and the world.
How the Subconscious Mind Works
Earlier, we discussed that the job of the subconscious is survival. It takes care of our breathing, healing injuries, digestion, and many other involuntary processes in our body.
But the most amazing job it does is to make shortcuts of tasks that we do regularly.
Your chances of success in any undertaking can always be measured by your belief in yourself.
When you use your logical mind to perform a task frequently, your subconscious gradually trains itself. A time comes when the subconscious completely takes over this task and executes it perfectly without any logical input.
Example: when a child is born, it doesn’t know anything. Its parents try to teach it to walk and to eat. At first, the child has to use their logical mind to handle a spoon or to learn how to balance their legs. Once they get enough practice, they no longer think. They just walk and eat without thinking about it. As we get older, our subconscious takes care of more and more tasks that we were once doing by thinking.
Right now, you can walk back from the market to your home without thinking about which way to take. Why? Because you’ve done it many times before, and your subconscious is now trained in it.
You may think it’s a small matter, but if you carefully think about the things you do every day, you’ll realise that most of the things you’re doing today without thinking, there was once a time when you had to think carefully to perform them.
Think of your subconscious mind as your brain’s silent operator. It’s the part that quietly stores all your habits, beliefs, and past experiences — kind of like a mental hard drive running in the background.
Most of what you do every day? That’s not your conscious thinking — it’s your subconscious on autopilot, guiding around 90% of your actions without you even realizing it.
How the Subconscious Mind Shapes Who You Are
Have you ever reacted to something and later wondered, “Why did I say that?” or “Why do I always do this?” That’s your subconscious mind in action. It quietly shapes your reactions, behaviors, and decisions, not based on what’s happening now, but on what it already believes to be true about you and the world.
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
From a young age, your subconscious starts collecting information — what you hear, see, experience, and feel. Over time, repeated thoughts and experiences become “truths” for your mind, even if they aren’t true. For example, if, as a child, you were often told to stay quiet, you might grow up with a fear of public speaking — not because you’re bad at it, but because your subconscious thinks “speaking up is unsafe.”
The same goes for things like procrastination or self-doubt. If you’ve heard “you’re not good enough” enough times — from others or even your own inner voice — your subconscious takes it seriously and starts running that script in the background. It becomes a default setting, and without even realizing it, you live your life within those limits.
But here’s the important part: none of these patterns are permanent. They were learned, which means they can be unlearned. Once you become aware of how these subconscious programs are running the show, you can start rewriting them — one thought, one belief, one action at a time.
The Power of Reprogramming Your Subconscious
The subconscious mind gets trained by repetition.
What if you do things that are bad for you or others frequently? Will your subconscious take this over too?
Yes, without any doubt.
The good news: If it has been programmed to do one thing, we can reprogram it to do something different this time.
You’re not broken — you’ve just been running on outdated mental software. It’s time to update it.
Reprogramming your subconscious simply means teaching it something new. It’s like creating a new mental habit. Just like how you learned to tie your shoelaces or ride a bike, your mind can learn new ways of thinking, feeling, and reacting. The process is simple, but not always easy: repeat the thoughts you want to believe, take the actions you want to become natural, and feel the emotions that match the life you want.
Frequent repetition is the key here. You can’t reprogram your subconscious by doing something once. You have to do it consistently until it becomes automatic.
Practical Ways to Harness Your Subconscious Mind
Now that you know your subconscious is shaping your life, let’s talk about how to work with it, instead of against it. The goal isn’t to “control” your subconscious, but to gently guide it by feeding it the right thoughts, habits, and emotions.
A few examples of how your surroundings affect you:
- Negative People: If you stay around negative people, you will always hear negative things, and your subconscious will get trained in negativity.
- Watching News: It’s understandable that you want to know what’s happening around the world. But today’s news is filled with dark stories, lies, and propaganda. The more you watch them, the more your mind will get trained in believing that the world is the worst place to live in. This will give rise to feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and anxiety.
Here are some simple and powerful ways to reprogram your subconscious mind:
Affirmations: Speak It Until You Believe It
Affirmations are short, positive statements you repeat to yourself, like “I am confident,” or “I deserve success.” When said consistently and with emotion, these phrases start to sink into your subconscious. At first, they might feel awkward or fake. But the more your mind hears them, the more it starts to believe them. Think of affirmations as seeds — plant them daily, and they’ll grow into real change.
Visualization: See It to Create It
Your brain doesn’t know the difference between something you imagine vividly and something that actually happens. That’s why visualization is so powerful. When you close your eyes and see yourself achieving your goals — whether it’s speaking confidently, getting fit, or living your dream life — your subconscious starts aligning with that vision. Over time, your actions begin to match the mental image.
Habit Building: Repetition Is the Key
Every habit you have today — good or bad — was formed through repetition. The subconscious learns by doing something over and over. So if you want to create change, start small. Choose one tiny habit that supports the person you want to become and repeat it daily. Eventually, it becomes automatic — part of who you are.
Meditation & Mindfulness: Quiet the Noise
Your subconscious speaks in silence, not in noise. Meditation helps you slow down and connect with what’s going on beneath the surface. Even just 5–10 minutes a day of sitting quietly, focusing on your breath, can help calm your mind and make you more aware of the thoughts running in the background. Mindfulness, on the other hand, is simply paying attention to the present moment. Both help you spot and shift unhelpful patterns before they take over.
Journaling: Talk to Your Inner Mind
Writing things down is like having a direct conversation with your subconscious. When you journal regularly — especially about your thoughts, emotions, and goals — you start to uncover what’s really going on inside. It brings hidden beliefs to the surface and helps you let go of what no longer serves you. Plus, journaling is a great way to track your growth over time.
Common Mistakes People Make
Working with your subconscious mind is powerful — but only if you approach it with the right mindset.
A lot of people give up too early or say, “This stuff doesn’t work,” not realizing they’re making a few simple mistakes. Well, they’re just programming their mind again.
Here are some common ones to watch out for:
Expecting Instant Results
Let’s be real — your subconscious isn’t a light switch you flip. It’s more like a garden. You plant the seeds, water them regularly, and give them time to grow. But many people get frustrated when they don’t see results in a week or two. Remember, you’re trying to rewrite years (maybe decades) of old patterns. Real change is subtle at first, but it builds — and when it clicks, it feels effortless.
Using Affirmations They Don’t Believe
Saying “I’m a millionaire” when your bank account says otherwise can feel like a lie. And if your subconscious doesn’t buy it, it won’t stick. The trick is to use affirmations that stretch you, but don’t break your sense of truth. For example, instead of “I’m rich,” try “I’m learning how to create more wealth every day.” That way, your mind goes, “Okay, that’s believable,” and it starts to shift in that direction.
Being Inconsistent
This is probably the biggest one. Reprogramming your mind requires repetition, and that means showing up daily, even when you don’t feel like it. Whether it’s affirmations, journaling, or visualizing your goals, do it regularly. Skipping days or giving up after a week is like going to the gym once and expecting a six-pack. Stay consistent, and the results will follow.
Bottom line: change is absolutely possible — but only if you’re patient, honest with yourself, and committed to the process.
Your Subconscious Mind and Self-Image
Here’s a truth most people don’t realize: how you see yourself — deep down — decides how you act, what you settle for, and what you believe you deserve. This is your self-image, and your subconscious takes it as the ultimate truth.
If you see yourself as someone who always messes things up, your subconscious will guide your actions to match that story. If you believe you’re not good enough, it’ll make sure you act in ways that prove that belief right — even if it’s not true. Why? Because your subconscious doesn’t argue. It doesn’t question whether your beliefs are helping you or hurting you. It simply follows orders.
But here’s the exciting part: when you change your self-image, everything changes. Start seeing yourself as confident, capable, and worthy — and your subconscious will begin adjusting your behavior to match that new identity. You’ll start showing up differently in the world — not because you’re “faking it,” but because you’ve rewritten the internal story.
It all begins with awareness. Catch those negative stories you’ve been repeating, and rewrite them. Bit by bit, your self-image shifts — and when it does, your habits, reactions, and results follow.
Final Thoughts: Make Your Mind Work for You, Not Against You
At the end of the day, your subconscious mind is like fertile soil — it doesn’t care what you plant. Positive beliefs or negative ones, empowering habits or self-sabotage — it’ll grow whatever you feed it regularly. That’s why it’s so important to become intentional about what you’re allowing in.
The beautiful part? You don’t need anything outside of you to start changing your life. You already have the power. You just need to understand how your mind works — and start using it with purpose.
Don’t wait for the “right moment.” Start small. Be consistent. Plant better thoughts, speak better words, and visualize the version of you that you know you’re capable of becoming. Bit by bit, your subconscious will start working for you instead of against you — and that’s when life begins to shift in the best possible way.
You’re not stuck. You’re just a few new thoughts away from becoming who you were meant to be.