"The Subconscious is Ceaselessly Murmuring, And it is by Listening to These Murmurs That One Hears The Truth."

Gaston Bachelard (1884-1962)

I was standing on the 7th tee looking down the fairway. There is a dogleg to the right at about 200 yards with a trap on the right side. I addressed the ball and the club came back and swung through the ball. The ball landed at about 220 yards down the right just past the trap. So who swung the club? Physically, I did... but it was my subconscious mind that directed the swing. I have swung a golf club so many times that it is just automatic. Now, if I can only get the swing to look like Tiger Woods I'll really have something.

If you have ever studied a language, you will remember how you struggled with vocabulary and grammar. If you continued with your studies you became more proficient and all of a sudden you realized one day you'd mastered a second language. Where is that language stored? Right again, in the memory bank of your subconscious mind.

The subconscious furnishes us with names, facts and scenes from the storehouse of memory. It directs our thoughts, tastes and accomplishes tasks so intricate that no conscious mind, even if it had the power, would have the capacity for. The processing capacity of the conscious mind is only 2,000 bits of information per second. Compare that to the 4 billion bits per second of the subconscious. The subconscious mind never sleeps just like your heart and blood circulation.

If you want to solve a problem, make a difficult decision, or simply need and idea, take a moment to give the task to your subconscious, then forget it. It will work on the problem until it has an answer. Simple problem might only take minutes. More complex ones will take a bit longer, but you can be assured that your mind will continue to work on it until it figures it out or you find the answer another way or your tell it to stop (don't be surprised if it won't stop). When it has the answer it will pop into your head just like the proverbial light bulb being turned on.

Your subconscious mind controls more than 85% of your mind. All of your life experiences - past conditioning, good or bad experiences, and beliefs - have already been accepted as "truth" by the subconscious, mostly without your permission. These beliefs, whether you like them or not, and whether you are consciously aware of them or not, constitute the patterns and behavior that you operate by. For the most part, they run your life.

This is potentially bad news. If you had an abusive parent or were picked on by your peers or siblings when you were young much of that "junk" is stored in your subconscious mind and what is worse is that you believe it. This is NOT an excuse for you to blame any failures on others. I repeat... This is NOT an excuse!!!

So you may ask, what do I do about it? I was hoping you would ask. There are two well known ways to reprogram the subconscious mind. The first is hypnotism and the second is meditation. I have used both.

About 23 years ago I decided to quit smoking so I found a hypnotist in my area and made an appointment. When I left my session and was driving down the road toward home I pulled a cigarette out of the pack in my pocket and lit it up. After about 4 puffs, I threw the cigarettes out the window and haven't smoked since. I think that's pretty powerful stuff!

How about meditation? I have been meditating off and on for about 10 years and daily for the last month. I found out about binaural beat recordings and I'm really excited about the results I've achieved. I think the most positive is that I now find myself responding to situations where I used to react. When the recording includes silent subliminal positive affirmations you are able to achieve results in months that otherwise could take years.

Other techniques I've been studying lately include Neuro-Linguistic Programing (NLP) and Emotional Freedon Techniques (EFT). In the article I read about EFT, it told of amazing success treating Vietnam War veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. With only 15 minutes of EFT treatment many reduced their symptoms significantly. That's a pretty powerful claim!

I read an article by David Holmes recently and would like to include from that article his 10 Simple Steps to Program Your Subconscious Mind.

1. Be the guardian of everything that enters your mind.

Know that everything you see hear and feel goes directly into your subconscious mind and you must manage the information you allow in. Eliminate negative information as much as you can by limiting the amount of news you read, stop seeing violent movies, read only positive information. Keep the positive information flowing into your mind and your subconscious will naturally become more positive.

2. Speak kindly to yourself.

When you look in the mirror do you like what you8 see? Do you compliment yourself on your most outstanding attributes? Stop all negative talk to yourself immediately. You are a perfect creation of God and you have beautiful traits that need recognizing. Remind your self of your great eyes or your winning smile - whatever sets you apart from everyone else in a positive way. Your subconscious will thank you.

3. Surround yourself with positive people.

Negative people can quickly lead to negative thoughts. Make sure your group of friends and those that love and admire you for the great person you are. Eliminate any time spent with anyone who brings you down. You can't afford the hit to your subconscious mind simply to maintain a negative friendship.

4. Use affirmations to your advantage and the optimum times when your subconscious mind is listening.

Immediately upon waking and immediately upon going to bed are the times when your conscious and subconscious mind are closest. It is at these time when you get the biggest bang out of your affirmations. Use positive affirmations at these times to super-program the subconscious. Some examples of positive affirmations are:

• I am one with the creative power that is materializing all my desires.
• Money is my friend. I have plenty of money.
• I freely express my creativity.

5. Be grateful.

Oprah Winfrey has done a magnificent job of reminding us all how important it is to have gratitude in our lives. Having gratitude allows us to realize the blessings we already have and keeps us open to receive so much more. Make a list of everything you are grateful for and grow this list as time goes on. On any day when it seems that nothing is going your way refer back to this list and remind yourself of all the blessings you already have. Your subconscious mind needs to know what you are grateful for so it can manifest more of the same for you.

6. Manage your time.

There are twenty-four hours in the day for everyone. The wealthy and the poor all have the same amount of time - the difference is in how they use their time. On the first day of each month plan, what you wish to accomplish. At the beginning of each week, make lists that support your plan along with all the necessary tasks that keep life going. Daily make lists of tasks you will accomplish that support all of the above. Keep your to-do list with you and check off all of your accomplished tasks. Your subconscious mind needs to see all the tiny accomplishments it takes for continued growth - not all those little check marks on you to-do list will go unnoticed.

7. Surround yourself with your favorite things.

Begin today placing your favorite things in full view in your home. Whether these be family pictures, treasures from your travels or sport memorabilia, always keep these things visible. You should be completely comfortable at home and your subconscious mind will benefit your renewed feeling of comfort and the peace you will have at home when you have your favorite things around you.

8. Set aside time for you.

Everyone needs time to reflect. Whether you pray, meditate, practice yoga, or just read positive information. Set aside an hour each day for yourself. Your subconscious mind needs to know just how important you are and nothing shows this importance than having time for yourself. Many believe there is not a free hour in the day for themselves. Whether you have to wake an hour early or go to bed an hour later having an hour of peace is an important way to clear your mind and open yourself to the possibilities your subconscious mind can offer.

9. Be the person you admire.

Make a list of the attributes you most admire in others and incorporate these into your own life - one by one. Once you begin to admire yourself, your subconscious mind will have a higher opinion of you as well.

10. Maintain a lighthearted/happy spirit.

Never allow the pressures of the day to bring you down. Make it a point to be light hearted and happy as much as humanly possible. Dwelling on the negatives of life badly affects your subconscious mind. Keeping a positive spirit will keep your subconscious mind well programmed and open to wonderful possibilities.

David Zack Holmes writes his features from a southern point of view. To read more articles see: http://www.davidzackholmes.com

Review these articles for more information: