Beware of the ghosts of the past! Look out for the gremlins! Unconscious cues affect your feelings. Your mind plays tricks on you. If you suddenly find yourself feeling negative or in a funk, consider what you just saw, heard or thought about in the minutes prior to the feeling. You may be able to identify the trigger – the mind trick – that created the change in your mood.
Scientific American Mind’s November issue cites a University of Toronto study last year where, “people who were unconsciously exposed to images of fast food logos became more impatient and less likely to be thrifty”. In another study, published in the March issue of the Journal of Psychosomatic Research, when participants recalled an illness-related memory, they were less able to tolerate pain.
Your subconscious mind is constantly picking up on subliminal cues. You do not have to be at the mercy of these unconscious culprits! When you recognize the phenomenon, you can take control. More self-awareness is a simple way to outmaneuver it. Take control of your thoughts. Choose to give yourself a treat! Think about what makes you feel good. Live your life by choice, not by chance.