Exploring the conscious mind

 

A Releasing Your Unlimited Creativity discussion topic

Copyright 2007 by K. Ferlic,   All Rights Reserved

 
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Exploring the conscious mind
Cautionary statement
What is the conscious mind
Exploring the conscious mind
Suggested exploration path

This file follows the topic, "Exploring our mind in the creativity perspective" Since this topic builds on the information contained in Exploring our mind in the creativity perspective consideration should be given to reading it first.

Cautionary statement (Top)

The approach to exploring the nonconscious mind is different than the psychological and therapeutic approach and the healing perspective used by most current medical and alternative practices different from the creativity perspective on healing. As such, an individual involved with any type and kind of psychological and therapeutic treatment and/or desire to explore healing with this approach should read the "Cautionary statement and disclaimer" found in the topic "Exploring our mind."

What is the conscious mind (Top)

To explore the conscious mind it is appropriate to understand how it differs from the nonconscious mind. The working definition of mind used in the creativity perspective is that mind is what we think and believe, who we think we are and how we think the universe works based on all the experiences we have had. It is what we allow ourselves to feel and not feel and the decisions we make and not make, on what we think and feel. Mind assimilates all that we have experienced and provides a perspective from which to view and experience Creation. Since mind is continually assimilating all that we experience it is a creative living process continually transforming itself. Ego is the identity mind constructs from what it thinks and believes about itself. Ego is the identity mind and gives to itself. Ego is what we use to describe who we think we are.

What is important is to understand mind retains all the experiences we have had. The portion of all the experiences we have had of which we are either aware or which can be easily remembered is what comprises our conscious mind. The portion of the experiences we have had of our current life which we do not easily remember is our subconscious mind. All that remains lies in the unconscious mind. Memories can, and do, readily move between each portions. There is no fixed compartments or barriers between these three aspects of our mind.

In many ways our mind is like the ocean. That which lies on or near the surface is the conscious mind. That which is below the surface and relatively easy to dive into and retrieve something is the subconscious mind. That which lies deep and requires special protection because of the increasing water pressure of all that lies above is reflective of the unconscious mind. Of course, the deeper we go in the ocean, the more protection required. But, nonetheless, all is water. What is different is not the water but the weight of the water which lies above where we desire to explore.

Exploring the conscious mind (Top)

From a creativity perspective, there is nothing special about exploring the conscious mind. We do it all the time without realizing we do it. Since the conscious mind is that which lies on or near the surface and easy to access, there is no special effort or techniques that are necessary for the exploration. It is only a matter of becoming mindful and aware and looking to see all what we know, understand and remember. Techniques are most useful to provide a structure or organization to the exploration.

How we choose to become aware of what we know, understand and remember doesn’t really matter. However, what does need to be understood, is that whatever technique we use, we will more often than not begin to surface items currently in our subconscious. For example, pulling the string of any given topic will ultimately take us into our subconscious mind. Most begin to realize they have entered their subconscious mind because the there is a feeling or an awareness that what is accessed was seemingly forgotten, or there is a feeling of depth with the information that surfaces, or there is an element of surprise in what surfaces.

All that really needs to be done in exploring the conscious mind is two thing. One is to establish clarity of intent. The second is to understand the line of inquiry that we will use and why we use it. We need to remember and be aware that different intentions will surface different information and different lines of inquiry will lead to different information even with the same intention. It cannot be forgotten how we focus our attention and awareness will determine what we see and observe.

Clarity of intent: To establish clarity of intention we need to pull the string a few levels as to why we are choosing to explore our mind. More often than not, our intention to explore the conscious mind is straight forward. It is only to remember and seek an answer to a question we have or to see if we can understand how to get around a particular obstacle to what we desire to create.

Lines of inquiry: A line of inquiry is conceptually related to pulling the string but different in two significant ways. One ways is that pulling the sting is about following what arises with the persistent, "Why this as opposed to something else?" Here mind surrenders to the path pulling the string reveals. A line of inquiry and a predetermined course of action. For example there are a series of questions or ideas that are pursued. What surface is only an answer to a question as oppose to information to be followed. Lines of inquiry are more characteristic to a diagnostic process determined by the mind or a planed desired outcome. Pulling the string is about follow a flow of energy back to its source.

A line of inquire is more typical of exploring the conscious mind. Pulling the string is more about exploring the nonconscious mind.

Suggested exploration path (Top)

The suggested exploration path is to do whatever you feel lead to do or do what you think you need to do for whatever it is you seek. From a creativity perspective other than to establish the limits and boundaries we consciously place on our creativity little is to be gained. For a true creative endeavor, we need to move beyond our current mind. The mind that created the problem or issue we face for which we seek a creative solution is not the mind that will give us the solution. Staying in our current mind will only keep us bound to past and the problem we face. Exploration of the mind for creative endeavors will most always take us into the nonconscious mind past the limits and barriers of the both the conscious and nonconscious mind.

It is to be noted, because creative endeavors take us past our conscious mind, fear or fears of some type and kind will surface to keep mind in control. When and if this occurs, we can be assured we are on the correct path and need to face the fear in whatever form it takes.

Related topics
Exploring the nonconscious mind
Fear and the unknown
Dealing with fear
Grounded and ungrounded assessments

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