Subconscious resistance is blocking out or suppressing unwelcome thoughts and feelings. It can be a form of self-hatred, avoidance, or denial. It can also be a way to cope with painful emotions, guilt, failure, or shame. However, subconsciously blocking out thoughts and feelings can lead to adverse health outcomes and create unnecessary stress, which can interfere with effective decision-making and hinder our ability to thrive.
Why Subconscious Resistance To Change Exists
Subconscious behaviours include automatic thoughts, habits, and emotional reactions, and these behaviours can be both positive or negative depending on their origin.
The resistance to change happens outside our conscious awareness. Resistance occurs when our mind does not want anything to change, which is related to negative emotions such as fear or anxiety.
The answer to why subconscious resistance exists lies in the brain’s biological predispositions and ability to react automatically to environmental stimuli. The brain protects us from harm, and it does this by categorizing information as good or bad. This categorization system starts when we are very young and is based on our experiences, beliefs, values, and emotions.
When something happens that does not fit into our current view of the world, it creates a feeling of discomfort because it challenges our beliefs or values. This feeling of discomfort signals the brain to resist change.
An example of a negative subconscious behaviour would be playing our past failures over and over in our mind wishing things had gone differently, which can leave on feeling anxious or depressed. On the other hand, a positive subconscious behaviour would be when you reach for a healthy snack when feeling hungry instead of unhealthy junk food. Learn more about the impact of your thoughts and feelings by reading our guide How Your Beliefs Create Your Reality.
You can overcome subconscious resistance. The first step is to understand the cause of the opposition. The cause or the trigger most often includes fatigue, boredom, and frustration with a situation or person. The key to overcoming subconscious resistance is to bring the cause of the opposition into your conscious awareness. Doing this can change your thoughts, emotions and reactions and break resistance patterns.
When you become accustomed to a particular routine or environment, you might become resistant to change in the routine. In this case, when change does occur, you tend not to progress with the change but stay put, and your effort and time in not changing is not used wisely and effectively.
Time and effort are needed to change the resistance. The steps to overcome your resistance include
- Understanding the cause of your subconscious resistance. For example, is it fatigue, boredom, or frustration?
- Bring the cause of your subconscious resistance into your conscious awareness.
- Make a plan to overcome the resistance and seek support around you.
- Take action and stick with it, refining the action as needed until you see results.
Leisures Relationship To Subconscious Resistance
Leisure time and activities play a crucial role in overcoming subconscious resistance. When the subconscious resistance is brought to your conscious state, leisure activities can support you.
Engaging in leisure activities that we enjoy helps reduce resistance and allows us to be more open-minded and receptive to new ideas and ways of thinking. In addition, leisure participation helps us process our surroundings more effectively, allowing us to make conscious decisions in response to new experiences rather than relying on our presumed subconscious negative thoughts, which cause resistance.
Through your leisure participation, you can gain awareness about yourself and the world around you, overcome negative thoughts and habits and embrace new ways of thinking and living. The other benefits of leisure participation in overcoming subconscious resistance include:
- improved mental well being
- increased self-esteem and confidence
- improved physical health
- improved sleep
- stronger relationships and social connections
All of these benefits work together to help us break free from negative thoughts and behaviours holding us back. For example, when we feel good about ourselves and our abilities, we are more likely to take risks and try new things, which is the key to breaking through subconscious resistance. In addition, leisure activities allow us to practice positive self-talk and reframe negative thoughts, helping us develop positive affirmations, which also help to overcome subconscious resistance.
Types of Leisure Activities For Counteracting Subconscious Resistance
Leisure is one of the most personal things in a person’s life. As we grow, explore and define who we are and the changes we have experienced, we expand our thoughts and redefine who we are in the world, so the leisure activity that is right for you may look different than your best friends.
To reduce subconscious resistance, try participating in an activity which allows you to move away from the fear of making changes. Engaging in leisure activities will broaden your perspective, touch your creativity, and stimulate problem-solving abilities that you never considered before, which helps dissolve any potential resistance against making life changes.
To give a specific list of activities that are a surefire way to counteract subconscious resistance would be futile to our individuality. However, there are the go-to activities that most begin with while exploring their leisure lifestyle and counteracting their subconscious resistance.
- Physical activities: walking, running, swimming, biking, deep breathing or mindfulness exercises.
- Social activities: attending events, joining clubs and groups or volunteering.
- Creative activities: art, writing, drawing, painting, crafts, music and performing arts.
- Mental activities: reading, playing games, or solving puzzles.
Leisure activities provide the opportunity to learn and practice new skills and positive self-talk and reframe negative thoughts helping us to develop positive affirmations, which also helps to overcome subconscious resistance. Find a leisure activity or activities that you enjoy and make time for them regularly, as this will help to improve your mental well-being, increase self-esteem and confidence, and improve physical health, all of which work together to help overcome subconscious resistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the subconscious mind play a role in manifesting?
The subconscious mind is responsible for manifesting our thoughts into reality. Therefore, to manifest our desires, we must first overcome any subconscious resistance holding us back. One way to do this is through leisure activities, as they provide the opportunity to learn and practice new skills, positive self-talk, and reframe negative thoughts.
Is all resistance simply the fear of change?
No, resistance is not always the fear of change. Instead, resistance can stem from many sources, such as fear, uncertainty, and lack of knowledge. Therefore, it is essential to identify the source of resistance before attempting to make changes.
Is it possible to talk to one’s subconscious?
Yes, it is possible to talk to one’s subconscious by using different leisure activities such as meditation, yoga and journaling to access the subconscious mind. In addition, creative activities such as drawing, painting and playing music also help access the subconscious. Or working with a therapist who can help provide you insight into one’s subconscious motives.
Final Thoughts
Give yourself permission to take care of yourself and make time for leisure activities that recharge and inspire you. By engaging in leisure activities, we become more aware of our subconscious resistance and are better able to let the resistance go, which further helps us understand our current situation better and clear any blockages that may be preventing us from change.
