It's the subconscious, stupid

We don't talk a lot about the subconscious mind, but we should...because when it comes to personal achievement it can explain things like lack of motivation, procrastination, or self sabotage.  And business wise, it can explain why your prospect hasn't bought from you yet.

So here's a useful way to think about it...

Your subconscious mind is kind of like Bobby Fischer (you know the legendary chess player--stay with me now).  You see Fischer was known to think 6 moves ahead while playing chess.

And so does your subconscious mind.   So what does that mean?

Well, whenever we're deciding to do something, we think we're evaluating the immediate task at hand.  But subconsciously you may be thinking 6 moves ahead, and evaluating the decision based on the final move (all without even realizing it).

For example, let's say you can't get yourself to go to the gym in the morning. 

Consciously this may show up as laziness.  You may just not feel like it.  You may be thinking about how far away the gym is, or the fact that you can't find your sneakers (how convenient).  Or rationalize to yourself how an extra hour of sleep will do more for your health than the hour at the gym (yeah right). These immediate impediments might end up winning, and prevent you from making it to the gym.

But is that rational?  Going to the gym and losing weight is a major life goal of yours, one in which you have no shortage of motivation.  How is it that general laziness won in the face of the long list of major benefits that going to the gym would result in?

It just doesn't add up?  Well, consider that what really drove your decision actually lies 6 moves ahead...let's lay out the gym scenario like it were a game of Chess...

Move #1:  Go to the gym this morning

Move #2:  Stick to my exercise routine this entire month

Move #3:  Lose 10 lbs!

Move #4:  Gain it all back (I always do)

Move #5:  My friends will look at me like a failure

Move #6:  I'll become depressed, gain 10 more lbs, and I'll be heavier than when I first started!

When you see these future moves, isn't it clear why you wouldn't want to go to the gym?  As irrational as it seems, this is how we think, and this is what often determines our behavior.

The subconscious mind is powerful and real.  And when you can recognize that it often can lead to irrational conclusions, you can fight it, and help your soon to be customers too.

Comments

[Joe Homs]

Trackbacks don't seem to be working here, so I'll just say that I posted an extension to your post at my blog.

http://journal.bitshaker.com/articles/2010/08/04/its-your-subconscious-and-what-to-do-about-it/