A few years ago, I was first introduced to the work of Peter Crone. His perspective, approach, and philosophy resonated immediately. Since then, I’ve easily consumed 30+ hours of his content and teachings (I think I’ve listened to every podcast interview he’s done!). While I still have A LOT of work to do (and I’m OK with that!), I’m proud of the progress I am making. One of the centerpieces to Peter’s work is the role of our unconscious mind…
Most people think success is a result of the conscious mind… but the unconscious mind plays a much larger role. In fact, over the long term, the unconscious always thwarts the conscious.
The primary job of our conscious mind is to pursue happiness, fulfillment, and pleasure.
The primary job of our unconscious mind is to pursue safety (and keep us alive).
Our unconscious mind doesn’t care how we feel or what we prefer.
When the conscious mind resists the current circumstances/situation (“I don’t like this!”), it creates a gap. The bigger the gap, the more pain and suffering we feel.
What controls our unconscious mind?
Our previous experiences (particularly our traumas).
Our unconscious mind uses previous experiences to identify current threats (most of these are perceived threats – not real threats).
For example, having your boss or your spouse SCREAM at you is a perceived threat (as you aren’t actually in danger) … but your body responds as if it is a real threat (your heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline, etc. all react as if you are in actual danger).
Thus, our traumas can often reveal anxiety and fear which then creates a perceived lack of control (and feels scary).
Our perception of control dictates the severity of the trauma.
Ultimately, the trauma itself isn’t what debilitates us, it’s our response that does.
Which is why two people can experience the exact same trauma and have two very different responses.
As human beings, our lives are heavily influenced by the stories we tell ourselves (we create the narrative).
For example, let’s say you were bitten by a dog when you were 6 years old.
You (understandably) replay that trauma every time you see a dog (and feel scared, anxious, and threatened).
You live the next 30+ years of your life scared of dogs (even though consciously you know that 99.9% of dogs won’t bite you!).
Replaying this trauma keeps you out of the present moment (you jockey back and forth between the past and the future).
Living our lives through this unconscious lens is a major limiting factor for so many people… me included! This is something I am trying to rewire in my own life (and believe me, I am far from mastery!)
