“The mind is like an iceberg. It floats, with one-seventh of its bulk above water.”
This definitive observation was made by Sigmund Freud, the great early 20th century German physician and psychiatrist, who, together with his Swiss /Austrian contemporary, Carl Gustav Jung, pioneered the concept of Pschoanalysis, in the treatment of mental disorders. He was at the time, drawing attention to the fact that the human mind was like an iceberg, with only a small portion showing and the rest submerged and largely unknown. Both men agreed that most people are only aware of, and make use of a small portin of their minds, (the conscious mind), while the greatest portion remains hidden and potent, (the unconscious mind).
Subsequently, Freud and Jung parted ways however, because of their different interpretations regarding the make-up and functions of unconscious mind. Freud believed that unconscious mind was the result of all the repressed and unresolved psycho-sexual experiences, which remain buried and continue to exert control over the behavior. Jung on the other hand, suggested a much wider view, in that the unconscious mind is an accumulation, not only of its own past experiences, but the past experiences of the many past generations, deeply embedded in the psyche. This he explained was responsible for the person’s internal functions such as beliefs, instincts, choices, sexual behavior and spirituality, and played a major role in shaping his outward behavior. He went into great details to explain its importance and influence on the individual’s behavior, calling it a ‘hidden treasure’:
“Our greatest treasure is that which is hidden deep within our own subconscious. It is that dark, unused part of our self that is in fact the light that is unconscious of itself.”
Although they are credited with formally introducing the concept of unconsciousness, with thinking and behavior being affected by influences outside of the individual’s consciousness, this idea has existed, in one form or another, as far back as records are available in the belief structures of most ancient cultures. The concept of Gods, divine inspiration, and supreme beings being responsible for controlling thinking and behavior has existed in every culture of mankind, and can be traced in their records. Among these, reference can be made of the following:
-In the Vedas, the ancient sacred writings of India, recorded almost 2000 years BC, there are clear references to the unconscious aspect of mentality, totally beyond conscious awareness.
-The ancient Greeks and Romans, made use of a vast array of Gods to control every aspect of the mind.
-Lao Tzu, the foremost ancient Chinese philosopher, whose works are said to have influenced Jung, talked about an inner psychic realm and an external, physical world.
It is worth considering that those unconscious forces can have such powerful influences on our conscious minds that many respected authorities have argued that we, in fact, do not really have a truly free will. When one considers that the Ego, which is the conscious part of the psyche, is under constant control by the unconscious forces, it would be fair to deduce that we are all prisoners of our unconscious minds, and until we control our unconscious, we remain prisoners. On the other hand, in the right setting, the unconscious can be amformidable force and ally in producing a state of wellbeing if we are able to identify them and understand them. This in fact was what Jung had concluded and incorporated into his psychoanalytic therapeutic approach. Indeed, this is precisely what an Unknown Author was alluding to, when he wrote:
The hardest prison to escape from, is the prison of your mind.”
The unconscious mind, very much like all the vital organs in the body, never stops working, as evidenced by the dreams that everyone experiences and the many unexplained examples of intuition. If functions like a huge memory bank and its capacity is virtually unlimited. Every single aspect of the individual is stored and categorized for easy recall and control, and is ready to swing into action if challenged. Its main function is to protect the individual from external forces and to maintain homeostasis, so that he can continue to function under optimum conditions. In many ways, it is a repository of all the possible information related to the individual, and ensures the status quo is maintained at all cost. It does this by instigating habits and comfort zones and then does everything to ensure their stability. This is why it is so difficult for anyone so break an already established habit, even when it is hurting them
Few psychologists today believe, as was common in the past, that the unconscious mind is but a ‘shadow’ of the conscious mind, with little influence on behavior. The majority, instead, generally regard the unconscious mind to be the major source of inspiration, intuition and creativity. And even though we are totally unaware of its activities, it is constantly working, playing a major role in our daily lives, our thoughts, and our functions, and influencing our decision-making. It appears to be functioning like a huge memory bank with a virtually unlimited storage capacity. It not only stores everything that has been experienced or encountered, but also an endless amount of information passed down from generations ago. In addition, all the habits of thinking and behavior acquired by the person is stored permanently in the subconscious, creating a comfort-zone, making them easy to recall, when needed, and establishing habit patterns for quick recall. Left alone it is unrelenting and unchanging, so that once formed, a habit becomes difficult to change, even if it is one that might be not helpful.
Recent studies appear to indicate that the unconscious mind is not just a diffused collection of past experiences, but rather a very highly developed system that functions like a computer, in that it comprises a sophisticated collection of modules that have evolved over time, and operate completely outside the conscious world. These modules are constantly on the alert receiving and assimilating the information supplied by the senses and issuing directives. These modules function quite independently and provide direction on a continuous basis. Indeed, it is possible to access these modules and even correct them by focusing on them. This is the mechanism used in meditation, hypnosis and a variety of other approaches designed to expose the module and introduce change. This is the primary basis of psychoanalysis and the reason for its success. As Carl Jung quite clearly indicated:
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
-This is the true power of the unconscious mind. It is equally capable of destroying if left unchecked, or of carrying the person to dizzying heights, if used judiciously.
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