The Knack of Using Your Subconscious Mind

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As brought out in the opening chapter, relaxation is the key by which the door to the subconscious is opened. For some strange reason, intense mental activity prevents or delays the work of the subconscious mind. This is not to say, however, that sustained conscious mental activity is unnecessary before a problem or an order is turned over to the subconscious.

One writer¹ has likened the process of gearing the conscious and subconscious areas of the mind for effective subconscious thinking to the process of “fireless cooking.” Some modern ranges have ovens with insulated walls which store heat when the gas or electricity is on and release it slowly long after the oven burner has been turned off. Carrying out the cooking analogy, this writer likens the conscious mind to the burner which starts the cooking process, and the subconscious mind to the insulated oven in which the cooking is finished on stored heat.

This is an apt analogy, and effectively illustrates the technique of using the subconscious mind.

To do all our mental “cooking” with our conscious mind is to burn mental and emotional energy wastefully and at tremendously high cost to our nervous system. Whereas, to use our subconscious mind to do the “cooking” with retained heat is to use our past experience, our mental energy and our time with the greatest possible efficiency. For while a problem or an idea is “cooking” it draws upon all our stored knowledge, experience and understanding.

When we give an assignment to the subconscious mind in the form of a definite problem or question or commission, we start the “cooking.” At this stage the conscious mind should focus on it, accumulating the necessary facts, ideas, information and relevant data for the subconscious mind to work on. The conscious mind must be focused on the material long enough and intently enough to get it thoroughly heated. Then, and not until then, should it be turned over to the subconscious mind.

The author referred to, who has many major problems to cope with in connection with several businesses, has gone so far as to have blanks printed to use for organizing his problems for “fireless cooking.” A copy of one of these blanks, filled out with a typical problem, is reproduced on the following page.

Under “Statement of the Problem” he boils down to a sentence or two just what the problem is, stated simply and baldly. This “turns on the heat.” In the next space he sets down five possible approaches to the problem. This helps to engage his subconscious mind and starts the “cooking.” In the third space he jots down any ideas he has thought of, “up to now,” whether or not they are particularly sensible or appropriate. He knows that solutions to problems frequently come from the most unexpected directions.

He stresses the fact that in filling out this “cooker” sheet he does not try to answer any of the questions.

He leaves them for his subconscious mind to work on. In the upper right-hand corner he “tickles” the sheet to be brought up for “stirring.” If no solution has come to him meanwhile, on the date it comes up for review he reads over what he had written; then, in the bottom space, he adds any new thoughts that come to him as he reviews the problem.

Sometimes, he reports, going over this sheet the first or second time “taps” his subconscious and produces a solution. But if it does not, he does not worry. He has given the problem a good “stirring.” He relegates it to his subconscious mind once more and goes about his business.

Sooner or later—it may be a matter of hours or days or weeks—this process nearly always produces the solution, with no wear and tear on his conscious mind.

He uses these sheets not only to solve his problems, but to work out constructive plans for the future.

Any one of us can accomplish the same result simply by crystallizing a problem that is facing us in a sentence or two and jotting it down on a slip of paper, then adding brief notes of all the possible ideas or solutions our conscious mind can think of at that particular moment. Our subconscious will then take over.

If you keep the paper on which you have made your “cooking” notes, the next morning—or whenever you take up the subject again—as you glance at your notes you may suddenly see the solution to your problem. Your subconscious had it ready for you and needed only to be jogged.

Sometimes, in starting the “fireless cooking,” instead of writing out your problem on paper it may be better to talk it out with some associate or friend, or a member of your family. Indeed, some people may use this method entirely because they can talk things out better than they can write; talking is their method of thinking. It makes no difference how you crystallize your problem, so long as you get it organized for your subconscious mind to work on.

At this point an important fact should be brought out: because the subconscious mind is not rational, but draws on our intuitive faculties and approaches every problem without relation to tradition or logic, we may not at first recognize the idea or solution it presents as being the help we are looking for. It is necessary, if we are to take our subconscious into partnership, to train ourselves to be open-minded, and to keep asking ourselves: Is it possible that this strange idea that has popped into my mind is the solution I have been seeking?

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Many people’s conscious minds are “one track”; they can concentrate on just one thing at a time. Fortunately for all of us, any number of problems can be turned over to the subconscious mind, where they will all “cook” at the same time, without the least confusion.

Usually the “fireless-cooking” process cannot be hurried; the subconscious can seldom be lashed into action. Then again, under certain conditions it works with surprising speed.

Sometimes it acts explosively—an idea or the solution to a problem blows off the lid, as it were, and pops out. At other times an idea or plan, or the answer to some intricate problem, unfolds like the petals of a flower. Once in a while the operation resembles the putting together of a picture-puzzle. Today the subconscious supplies one piece, tomorrow one or two more, and so on, until suddenly some morning the picture is complete.

Meanwhile, once the subconscious has been given an assignment, the conscious mind can be turned to other matters, with no further immediate concern about the problem in question. The farther afield it goes, the better. Best of all, seek complete mental relaxation by turning to some activity which you especially enjoy. Play golf, read a detective story, lunch or dine well and leisurely, go to a concert or the movies, play bridge or canasta, take a brisk walk, or do something that requires skill of hand. Consciously tune out the conscious mind, as you would turn off a radio or television program. Let it go on a vacation!

Sometimes while the “cooking” process is going on, little segments of a solution of a problem will flash into the conscious mind. It is well to stop and think about them for a few minutes. The subconscious mind may be ready to report. On the other hand, it may be merely the steam from the process of subconscious cerebration penetrating the conscious mind, much as the aroma of the turkey roasting in the oven penetrates the house on Thanksgiving day with its enticing promise. We should not ignore this symptom of progress; neither need we force it unless we are under pressure of time. But it is always encouraging.

Learning to use the subconscious mind—consciously—is like forming any new habit. In forming a new habit, you have to repeat it until it becomes automatic.

In learning this new habit of using your subconscious mind, you will have to discard your old habit of straining to solve problems with your conscious mind. You must use your conscious mind to start the “fireless cooking.” But you must then accustom yourself to letting your subconscious mind take over.

Another point to bear in mind in forming the new habit is that your subconscious mind can be trained on the many little problems that make up your working day, as well as your life at home. Once you learn the “knack” of “fireless cooking” your little problems, the bigger and tougher ones will take care of themselves in the same easy fashion. Then your new habit will really begin to pay off!

Reprinted from: Williams, John K. “Chapter 9: The Knack of Using Your Subconscious Mind.” The Knack of Using Your Subconscious Mind. Scarsdale, NY: Updegraff, 1952. 63–71.