Let’s continue our dive into the subconscious mind. Last week, I shared how time does not heal unresolved emotional experiences in the subconscious, and I emphasized the need for a structured, proactive approach to actively work on resolving them.
Our thoughts, speech, and actions have the ability to leave impressions. The more intense they are, the greater the impression. Let me elaborate. A passing thought—for example, walking down a street in Manhattan and noticing, “That’s a new store”—may not carry enough emotional intensity to leave an impression. Hence the term “a passing thought.”
A more intense thought, speech, or action has a greater ability to leave an impression—like two individuals yelling at each other in a state of rage. This leaves a strong impression in the subconscious, embedded with intense emotion—emotion that vibrates at the frequency of anger.
These are one-off experiences that impress the subconscious to varying degrees, depending on their intensity.
Another way the subconscious is shaped is through repetition. If I repeatedly think a thought, it will begin to create an impression in my mind. The more intense the thought, the greater the impression. Let me define “intense” as a highly emotionally charged thought.
Let me give you an example of a repetitive thought that is intense—one that leaves a deeper imprint on the subconscious through both emotion and repetition. Imagine someone who’s about to give a presentation at work. As the day approaches, the thought begins to creep in: “What if I mess this up?” That thought alone may not leave a lasting impression. But if that person has had that thought before—many times, in different contexts—it begins to stick.
Each time the thought is repeated—especially when it’s charged with emotion like fear or anxiety—it begins to carve a pattern in the subconscious. “What if I fail?” becomes more than a passing concern; it starts to become a belief. And beliefs rooted in the subconscious don’t need to be consciously activated to shape behavior—they run silently in the background, quietly and constantly.
This fear of failure—formed through the repetition of intense thoughts vibrating at a particular frequency (the emotion of fear)—can manifest as hesitating to speak up, turning down new opportunities, over-preparing, second-guessing oneself, or playing small in life. Not because the current situation justifies it, but because the subconscious is reacting to an old, emotionally charged pattern.
It’s important to always keep this in mind: the subconscious does not distinguish between what serves you and what doesn’t. It simply records what is repeated—and anything repeated with enough emotional intensity will leave a deeper impression. The same is true in the positive. If you consistently repeat something that is empowering or joyful—with emotion—it will impress the subconscious just as deeply.
In my book The Power of Unwavering Focus, in Chapter 1, Lesson 1.2: Taking Charge, I emphasize the power of choice in shaping our mental state and what we choose to focus on. In this lesson, I share the story of a man who starts each day with laughter—a habit instilled by his mother despite the hardship of losing her husband and raising children alone. It’s a beautiful example of deliberately impressing joy on the subconscious by consciously setting an emotional frequency at the start of each day.
What you repeat, you become.
Be very conscious of what you think, say, and do—especially when it’s repeated—because in doing so, you’re building your mind, for better or for worse.
P.S. The Power of Unwavering Focus has been translated into 23 languages. If you resonate with my work and want to take a deeper dive, it’s a great place to start. It’s available in print, ebook, and audiobook formats through major bookstores and on Amazon.
