Subconscious Update

What benefits are there for intentionally allowing subconscious processes?

The subconscious tends to be a less accurate mechanism, than conscious thought, for causing a reaction, since it doesn’t consider as many details or distinguishments and connections between factors. As I described in my last post; Backspace Subconscious, the subconscious can even direct further conscious thought to be mistaken and incorrect. So typically, it seems that there wouldn’t be much benefit to intentionally allowing subconscious processes. But there should be some exceptions. 

Using your subconscious would have an effect on connectivity between neural pathways. Since the subconscious is more likely to be incorrect than conscious thought, times of using the subconscious, could have another downside, of reinforcing neural pathways that are incorrect. But, that is only in comparison to conscious thought. The subconscious is still more likely to be correct than accessing no memory data at all. So considering subconscious data which is correct, reinforcing these pathways would be beneficial and useful, since 1 main advantage that the subconscious has over conscious thought, is that it’s faster.

 For eg, most language which we use regularly seems to utilize some subconscious connections. Words seem to build into our subconscious, so that we can automatically and quickly access them. While using language, usually we are thinking consciously, but the factors or concepts that we are consciously thinking about, are subconsciously linked to the label, saved in memory. Reinforcing the subconscious links between labels and factors/ concepts should be useful for quick communication. Physical tasks involving technique (such as sports, or playing an instrument etc), would be another example, where reinforcement of subconscious neural pathways would be useful. This is basically the concept of training or practicing for a task, until it's been repeated enough that those neural pathways are accessed quickly and easily.

Another more complex exception for usefulness of allowing subconscious processes, could be trying to consciously correct or update the subconscious. Subconscious data seems to be quite difficult to access consciously, as I further explained in a post from a few weeks ago; Conscious Subconscious Memory Access, but at times when something obvious stands out about a mistake in your subconscious, corrections could be made consciously. If you allow subconscious processes to occur, but then quickly after, analyze the process, it should be plausible to consciously notice any distinct problems, and to then attempt to determine the cause of the problem. 

The key may be to analyse the subconscious processes quickly afterwards, since at that time, the neural pathways would be recently reinforced, allowing easier access to the same pathways. An example where this occurs for me, seems to be remembering dreams. Considering dreams are a subconscious state (as I further explained in a post from a yr ago; Seam of a Dream), remembering dreams is usually quite difficult, but if I try to remember a dream right after I wake up, it is easier to remember. This is likely because the neural pathways have been freshly reinforced. Playing sports may be another eg. of using a lot of subconscious processes, since speed is often necessary to react quickly. If you try to remember details of a lot of the fast paced action, after a game is over, it seems to be quite difficult. But, if you try to consciously analyse a play directly after it happened, it’s easier to remember, for the potential of determining mistakes in your subconscious reactions, and improving. With the eg. of language, at times of noticing a recent mistake in speaking or writing, or significant relevance of the meaning of a label, we can consciously reinforce more accurate neural pathways for that label.

Besides relying on your own memory of your subconscious, perhaps a more effective method could be allowing a 2nd perspective. Someone else could point out mistakes or problems of times when your subconscious is active, or you could even record yourself, to analyse it afterward. 

Another potential benefit to allow subconscious processes, could be to find useful connections in memory, which you are not consciously aware of. This may be typically less applicable or useful, but there could be scenarios when “thinking outside the box” could help. If “the box” is considered to be your usual conscious understanding and awareness, there’s some chance that you have something in memory that you’re not aware of, but which your subconscious can access. 

The benefit of allowing subconscious processes, seems to mainly be, reinforcing neural pathways for quick reactions. Using post-conscious analysis to correct mistakes, and reinforce the more effective neural pathways, for future quick access, can allow the significant benefit of a Subconscious Update.