Deep Dive Series: The Power of Your Subconscious Mind PT 2

Joseph Murphy Chapter 2: How Your Own Mind Works




⚠ Spoiler warning: This series will discuss ideas and examples directly from the book.

"When you are seeking an answer to a problem, your subconscious will respond, but it expects you to come to a decision and to a true judgement in your conscious mind. You must acknowledge the answer is in your subconscious mind."

This book speaks a lot about how much power you have within.

And I’ll be honest—this is one of those ideas that can either completely change how you think… or make you question everything you already believe.

When I was a Christian I never really understood what people meant by them being gods. Maybe what they were addressing is what Joseph Murphy is getting at. I love that spirituality brings so many possibilities.

Welcome back to this series. I know I’m not consistent with posting, but I’m a little busy so I’m going to be posting on these days since it fits with my work schedule:

EVERY SUNDAY

Chapter 2: How Your Own Mind Works

What Stood Out to Me (and honestly kind of stuck with me)

Murphy starts off by talking about how the subconscious mind accepts any idea and will execute it.

And that right there is where the book starts to get a little uncomfortable.

Because if that’s true… then what you repeat to yourself actually matters more than you think.

Murphy calls the conscious mind rational and the subconscious irrational. He also talks about how what you think is what you are all of the time, pointing out that even in the subconscious mind thoughts are still being processed and carried, claiming that the irrational mind’s ways are “past finding out.”

Experiments by Psychologists (this part surprised me)

Joseph talks about hypnosis and how the subconscious mind doesn’t know how to make selections and comparisons, which is needed to reason.

I did some digging on hypnosis when it comes to the subconscious mind, because I wanted to know if this was actually real or just theory.

And it turns out hypnosis isn’t some sneaky mind-control trick or fake performance thing. It’s actually a measured shift in consciousness.

In this state of mind, the brain shifts from:

  • beta waves (normal waking state)

  • to alpha waves and theta waves

These are commonly associated with:

  • deep relaxation

  • focused attention

  • memory recall

And in that state, the subconscious becomes way more receptive to suggestion and change.

Murphy gives an example where people were told under hypnosis that they are freezing cold, and their bodies started responding like it was real—even though it wasn’t.

That part honestly made me pause.

He also goes on to talk about senses of the subjective mind (subconscious mind), saying it may have abilities like clairvoyance and clairaudience (psychic abilities).

The Power of Suggestion

This part of the book was interesting to me, but also kind of unsettling.

Because Murphy is basically saying that words can shape people more than we realize.

Like if someone continuously tells you:

“You look sick… you don’t look well…”

Eventually, if you believe it, your mind and body can start aligning with that belief.

And that’s where it gets real—because it means influence isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s repeated.

He also gives stories:

  • a dad losing an arm because of how strongly he believed he could take away his daughter’s disease

  • an older woman restoring her memory

  • someone overcoming a temper

All of these are beautiful stories… except the ones where someone gets hurt or dies.

But what they all have in common is this:

What you allow into your mind—words, emotions, beliefs—doesn’t just stay in your head.

It can shape how you experience reality.

And I took away something simple but kind of heavy:

Your thoughts are who you are if you allow them to be.

The Subconscious Does Not Argue Controversially (this part made me think the most)

If the subconscious mind is really this fluid with suggestion, and you can reprogram your mind, then what could we actually accomplish in our day to day lives?

I’ve been told by my counselor that if I change the way that I think I change my perception and reality.

And Murphy says something similar:

"When you set up obstacles, impediments, and delays in your conscious mind, you are denying the wisdom and intelligence in your subconscious mind and you're saying that your subconscious mind cannot solve your problem, which leads to neurotic tendencies."

I don’t know how to feel about this.

But it does make me think of something deeper:

A lot of us grow up in disorienting childhoods and are still expected to become stable, healthy adults at a certain age. At some point, we have to take accountability for the healing we need—even if we didn’t create the damage.

And that can start small:

  • treating yourself more kindly

  • changing how you speak to yourself

  • being the parent you never had

My Thoughts (Honest & Unfiltered)

I’m still sceptical about this because it just feels like BS and way too easy.

Like:

“Just change your thoughts and everything changes”

And I don’t fully buy that.

But I do like that it tries to connect spirituality with science.

At the same time, I think that can also create false expectations for people who are really struggling mentally—or even people dealing with psychosis.

So I’m sitting in the middle with it.

What I Took Away (if anything stuck, it’s this)

  • Change starts with your mind

  • You have a lot more power than you think

Questions I’m Sitting With (and I actually want answers to this one)

  • Who does this actually work for?

  • How much of this is true vs belief?

If you’ve read this book or have thoughts on it, I’d actually like to hear them.

Also check out writingelite.wordpress.com—it’s where I write on other topics that deal with families and real-life experiences.


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