How to Rewire Your Subconscious Mind
And why mindset alone isn’t enough
As originally published in Change Your Mind Change Your Life on Medium.com.
Image: engin akyurt on Unsplash
We hear it all the time: “Just think positively.”
While mindset work is important, it often only scratches the surface. That’s because only 5% of our thoughts are conscious. The other 95% are run by our subconscious. That’s the part of the mind that holds our deeply embedded beliefs, emotional patterns, and childhood programming.
Imagine your mind like a Rubik’s cube that was perfect in the beginning, but then got all scrambled as person after person came into contact with it.
If you’ve ever wondered why you keep repeating the same unhelpful patterns, sabotaging your success, or struggling with confidence even when you know better, this is why: Your subconscious is running the show.
Until you shift what’s stored in the subconscious, change will always feel like an uphill battle.
Beliefs Are the BlueprintOur beliefs create our reality. But most of our core beliefs were formed in childhood, before we were old enough to critically assess them.
Beliefs like:
I am not enough
I am not worthy
I am different and don’t belong
These beliefs become the lens through which we interpret life. They affect how we see ourselves, what we believe we’re capable of, and what we allow ourselves to receive. And because beliefs drive behaviour, they shape everything from our health to our relationships to our income.
But here’s the good news: Beliefs can be changed.
Step One: AwarenessThe first step to rewiring your subconscious is becoming aware of your current beliefs. You can start by asking:
What areas of my life feel stuck or painful?
What recurring thoughts or phrases do I catch myself saying?
What patterns keep repeating, despite my best efforts to change them?
Don’t judge your answers. Just observe. Awareness is the first step towards transformation.
Step Two: Identify the RootSymptoms like anxiety, procrastination, burnout, or physical illness are surface-level signals. Beneath them is often a subconscious belief driving the behaviour.
For example, if you consistently overwork, the root belief might be: “I have to prove my worth to be loved.”
Once you identify the belief, ask: Is this belief serving me? Is it even true?
It might be helpful to seek outside support for this step. We often struggle to take an unbiased, objective look at our own lives. An outsider can help us gain clarity.
Step Three: Rewire Through RepetitionThe subconscious mind learns through repetition. Just like you learned to walk or drive a car, you can teach your mind new ways of thinking.
Try these tools:
Affirmations (used properly): Say them in the present tense with emotion. Instead of “I will be successful,” say: “I am worthy of success and receive it with ease.”
Visualisation: Imagine your ideal reality in vivid detail. Engage all your senses. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between real and vividly imagined experiences.
Hypnotherapy or RTT: These methods help you access and reprogram the subconscious quickly and powerfully.
Mirror Work: Look yourself in the eyes and speak affirming truths aloud. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but it’s incredibly healing.
Journaling Prompts: “What would I believe if I truly loved myself?” “What’s the worst thing I believe about myself — and is it true?”
Consistency is key. Remember, the subconscious accepts what is familiar. So the more often you repeat a new belief, the more deeply it embeds.
Above all else, it’s the feeling that matters. If any of the above actions are not making you feel positive emotions, stop and try again later. Because your reality reflects how you feel, not what you say.
Step Four: Make the Familiar UnfamiliarYour subconscious prefers what is familiar, even if it’s painful. If struggle is what you know, success may feel unsafe.
To change, you must:
Become aware of when old patterns arise.
Pause, and choose a new response.
Celebrate each small shift as evidence of your growth.
Over time, what was once unfamiliar, like self-worth, calm, or abundance, becomes your new normal.
It’s About Progress, Not PerfectionYou are not broken. You are not stuck. You’re simply running on outdated programming that you may or may not have chosen.
But now, you have a choice.
You can choose to rewire your subconscious. To move the coloured squares in the Rubik’s cube back to their original place.
You can choose beliefs that support your health, happiness, and success. And when you do, your outer world will begin to reflect your inner transformation.
Because your mind is that powerful.
Wherever you are in your journey, always remember that YOU ARE ENOUGH.
