How to Recognize Self-Destructive Patterns and Fix Them

One of the biggest challenges for people and that limits their potential is their own self-destruction.  But, here's the rub - most people don't know that they are doing this to themselves.

Wait, what?  How can someone be self-destructing to themselves without knowing they are doing it?  One word:  Subconscious.

You see, we have 2 minds, a conscious and subconscious mind.  The conscious mind is the mind we "think" with and use to process information into our inner core, the subconscious.  You can think of it this way.  When you learn to drive a car, the conscious mind is at work where you have to think about everything - "hands at 10 and 2, blinker on when turning, checking mirrors, etc."  Most would agree that it is awkward at first, but after a while, "we get the hang of it."  Now think about this, the last time you drove a car, did you really have to think about it?  No, you just got in started it up and went.  What changed?  The subconscious mind.  Because you have now driven so many times, it is almost automatic, just like throwing a ball or brushing your teeth.  Your subconscious mind has filed all of the reactions needed to the scenarios when driving a car and automatically reacts without you having to think.

Once you understand this, you can start to see how the subconscious can automatically affect other areas of our lives.  It is truly the most power part of our brain and when we learn how to use it properly, can be our biggest asset.  If we don't, it can become our biggest liability and hinder our success.

How can it hinder our success?  Over time the subconscious is "trained"  by the influences throughout our lives, our experiences, and trauma that happens through our lives and begins to create responses to situations and scenarios that come up.  The subconscious is also the animal part of our brain that puts survival above all else and avoid pain wherever possible.  So, when put in a situation where you need to push your limits or get outside of your comfort zone, your subconscious will automatically respond in a way that keeps you safe and where it is used to and has been trained to be.  

And these automatics reactions and responses stop people from reaching higher levels and capabilities.  If you are wondering why you cannot break out or a rut or keep having trouble getting to a new level, it's most likely your subconscious at work.

The good thing is that you can change this.  Awareness is the catalyst to change in anything and the key growth.  Now that you are aware to the fact that your subconscious runs a lot of areas of your life without you even knowing it, you can begin to recognize these patterns and change them.

for example, if you find that you seemingly spend every dime you make and never have money leftover to save, you can recognize this self-destructive money management problem from your subconscious and start to change the pattern.  Maybe you start by writing out your monthly expenses and tracking where you spend your money.  And then start small, setting a mini-goal like saving $10 per week in a "money jar" on your counter that then get's put in a savings account.  You begin to develop this habit and a new pattern and your subconscious sees the money being "saved" and begins to change it's automatic responses/reactions to money situations.  Over the course of a few weeks and months, you can completely change your subconscious conditioning to saving money.

Remember, first become aware to subconscious and it's potential to self-destruct or stop you from reaching what you desire.  Then start to change it's programming or patterns incrementally over time and create new patterns that take you where you want to go.  And while, you are at it, embrace the amazing responses/reactions that your subconscious has that bring greatness and good into your life and that you want to keep.  Make the most of them.  Lastly, know that this process is a lifelong one and will require effort, but it is a lot of fun to start to see the success that can happen when you do.  Now go out and make it happen!