Role of Subconscious and Unconscious States of Mind 1

Modern psychoanalysts of dreams classify them as  -- action and stationary or dull dreams. The first category is attributed to the dreams in which one finds himself as engaged in some activity or as part of a dynamic scene of the dream. On the other hand, the dreamer is merely a silent onlooker of the stationary dreams; he is not a part of or an actor in such dreams. Stationary dreams may sometimes inspire a new thought or flash out a novel idea in the viewer's mind. Dreams of this kind also allay mental tension and stress and soothe the nerves. The vital energy required for the brain functions during a dream is negligible as compared to the positive returns in terms of reducing the pressures of untoward impressions registered in the subconscious mind.

The patterns of alpha - waves in the impulses of brain, recorded in the state of dreaming confirm that this state is not different form the subconscious or active state of mind. When we are awake, it is our conscious (external) mind, which remains active. It is the subliminal activities of the unconscious mind, which take over when we are fast asleep and dreaming.

Most activities in our daily life are performed in what is called as the subconscious state of mind. Except if the conscious mind is alert and focused, we carry out most of our works absent-mindedly, in this 'partly asleep' state. Inferences drawn from common observations indicate that on an average people use substantial focus of the conscious mind for only about a minute in an hour. This way, if we leave out 8 hours of sleep in general, we make best use of our conscious mind only for about 16 minutes during the 16 hours of our physically awakened state every day. The same is true of the absolute activity of the unconscious mind. It is only a negligible fraction - may be a few seconds in our dreaming state - when our unconscious mind is completely charged.

It is said that the power and potentials of unconscious mind are infinite as compared to those of the conscious mind and its intellectual facilities. The conscious system of mind makes perception, focused thinking, reasoning, imagination, and conceptualization possible and enables acquisition and understanding of (external) knowledge. Efficiency of decision making, trenchancy of analysis, cleverness and sagacity largely depend upon how one trains, refines and makes use of this mental endowment. It is surprising to note that despite being the regulator of intellectual creativity and talents, the conscious mind cannot generate or control the flux and tides of thoughts and emotions on its own.