Have you ever had a moment when you felt like something was guiding you, even though you weren't sure what it was? This could be your subconscious mind at work. In psychology, the subconscious is the part of the mind that is not in focal awareness. It is often referred to as the unconscious, and is explored in traditional practices as well as New Age literature. The subconscious can be accessed through introspection, and it can influence your behavior, motivation, and impulses.
It is a powerful entity that has been given a prominent place in self-help literature, where it is believed that understanding and controlling it can bring about positive outcomes. The term subconscious was first used by Pierre Janet in 1889 in his doctoral thesis De l'Automatisme Psychologique. He believed that there was a limit to what could be retained in focal awareness, and so an alternative repository of knowledge and experience was needed - the subconscious. Sigmund Freud further developed this concept in 1893 when he used the term subconscious to describe associations and impulses that are not accessible to consciousness.
He believed that these could be revealed through techniques such as autosuggestion and affirmations. The Society for Psychical Research is currently investigating the power of the subconscious, and how it can be used to influence a person's life and real-world outcomes. Flick experienced one of these subconscious mental perceptions during her writing process, which allowed stories to come together in unexpected ways. The idea of the subconscious as a powerful agency has allowed it to occupy a prominent place in New Age and self-help literature. By researching or controlling your supposed knowledge or power, it is believed that you can bring about positive changes in your life.
