The Unconscious Executive: the unseen work of your mind
In my work as a neuroeducator, I come across stories about our miraculous mind that fire my curiosity. Every week, I share my thoughts about how to work smart to amplify your organic potential, develop a growth mindset, and foster your brain health. I hope you enjoy them! (scroll down to read more)
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Most of our problem-solving is done in the deep.
Surprisingly, 90-98% of our mind operates in the unconscious realm.
Mermaid by Pamela Colton Thomas
I routinely use art, nature, and the writings of thinkers I admire to inspire deep thought; to delve into the realms of my mind in shadow. This painting brought me into deep reflection about the power of connecting our unconscious mind with our sentient mind. In this watercolor, Pamela Colton Thomas depicts a mermaid creating a fluid connection between the unconscious, symbolized by the sea, and awareness, symbolized by the stars and the moon. This mermaid risks exposing herself to the world above the sea.
We all know how risky it feels to delve too deep into troubled waters.
The gifts of taking this dive can be tremendous.
The mind is designed to survive and thrive, and the more we engage it successfully, the more we can leverage its insights. Learning how to delve into the deep for sunken treasure can reveal astonishing realizations. We understand them as epiphanies. How to take that dive is not something we learn in school, but there are strategies that will open that arena for discovery.
How to leverage your unconscious mind
1. Ensure Four REM cycles of sleep per 24 hours: Getting quality REM sleep is one way to access the unconscious but we are constantly sabotaging this gift. Screen time delays REM sleep by 2 hours. Alcohol and sleep aids are known to prevent deep sleep and REM sleep by acting as a sedative that prevents this state from occurring.
In REM sleep our minds do work in that deep place.
Emotions are processed and regulated, learning and memories are consolidated, and problems are solved. Sometimes our fears run a practice course in nightmares, training for a real event just in case. Sometimes beautiful dreams show us how living them can be done. Creativity sparks and we wake inspired.
The unconscious ocean of our mind is a treasure trove of innovation, wisdom, and tactics that can be leveraged by delving into it with intention. The “mermaid” has brought them to our conscious shore in the full light of morning. I recommend capturing them first thing in a morning journal. Try journaling when you first wake up each day. Your journaling should be free-form and should take whatever direction your subconscious mind takes them. My morning pages have astounding revelations.
REM Sleep is not the only way to delve into the ocean of our mind. I have used a quick unfocus break or nap to let my mind relax when stuck on a problem and often arrive with the answer. Another technique is using awareness hacks to bring your attention to what is just beneath the surface.
2. Mindfulness exercises: Mindfulness is primarily focused on developing awareness of conscious experiences in the present moment. However, as individuals become more mindful, they may naturally become more attuned to aspects of their unconscious mind that were previously hidden. Therapists and practitioners integrate mindfulness techniques to help individuals explore and work with their unconscious material.
Examples of what a busy professional can do to unfocus.
Mindful Breaks: Take short breaks during the workday to practice mindfulness. Step away from your desk, stretch, and take a few deep breaths.
Mindful Walking: Incorporate mindfulness into your daily commute or when moving between meetings by walking mindfully. Pay attention to the sensations in your body and the environment around you.
Reflect Daily: At the end of the day, reflect on your experiences and emotions without judgment. Use your inner mermaid to help you gain insights and let go of any lingering stress.
Humans have always loved the ocean and the stars.
When I am in the ocean I can imagine how mermaids relish the ability to swim far deeper than scuba gear can function and yet sit along the shore staring at the galaxies.
We can take journeys of imagination into our unconscious using symbols or personas like the mermaid depicted in this painting that pull unconscious wisdom from our minds in a fun and creative way. This is referred to by Harvard psychologist, Srini Pillay as Psychological Halloweenism, a technique Entrepreneur magazine recommends as a creativity booster.
Does this sound unconventional? So what! It works.
Put on your mermaid fins and see where they take you.
To hear more about how to optimize your most important business asset, I invite you to attend my workshop in Denver at the Biz + Life Con Summit on October 20, 2023. There will be two days of incredible content delivered by powerful and wise women in business. “In its sixth year, the fall event provides peer-to-peer experiential learning, connecting, and a helluva lot of fun!”
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More about the Mermaid by Pamela Colton Thomas
This mermaid has a unique appeal to me. She represents the pure feminine quality of receptivity and fluid connection with the unconscious, as Jung described. At home in the sea, the universal symbol for the unconscious, she has jumped out of the waters to embrace an entirely different element, her beautiful moth winged tail brushes against the stars and the full moon, which represents full awareness. Why does she risk swimming to the shoreline, the edge of her territory exposing herself for all to see? She comes bearing gifts for each of us to receive. These gifts can appear in the form of a dream or inspiration that comes suddenly from who knows where. A story, a song, a painting, or a solution to a problem you have long searched for. She arrives fully alive, vibrant with color and form. Her gifts come from the unconscious. She is the mermaid of our soul, a beautiful mystical creature of the deep, arriving in the midnight hours, tail glistening in the moonlight bearing gilts for each of us.
This watercolor painting was created by Pamela Colton Thomas, an artist and writer that lives on the Big Island of Hawaii. You can see her work online at pamelacoltonthomas.com , sokoartists.com, and Pamela Colton Thomas-Radosevich on Facebook. Greeting cards are available at Kayas, Day View Farms, Kona Stories, and Green World Coffee Farm on Oahu. You can contact her directly at pamelacoltonthomas@gmail.com for inquiries and sales of Fine Art Giclee Prints on paper, aluminum, and notecards.