Exploring Our Subconscious to Heal, Find Direction, And More
With 3 Guided Exercises
A fun thing about journal prompts and open-ended questions is that you can use them to explore your subconscious thoughts and compare your subconscious with your conscious thoughts.
I asked myself one of these questions listed in this post today, and my first instinct had made me realize I haven’t fully healed from the hurt I went through in my childhood.
My second answer made me realize that I haven’t fully identified what I want, or who I want to be yet.
How does this help?
I’m not trying to open wounds, trust me.
In my example above, my first answer gave me a direction to focus on healing. My second answer reminded me that I’m still exploring what I want, and while I know what I want for a career now (I had questioned a career path for years), I am still exploring me.
I’m OK with that.
In fact, it’s exciting!
And my answers also gave me further ideas of what to journal about instead of just writing about my day. I can focus on prompts, questions, and exercises for healing and discovering who I want to be and who I am now.
Below is how to get started, with three guided questions and ten additional prompts to use.
Write down the first thing that comes to mind. Then, take a moment to seriously consider the question and write down your second answer.
Afterwards, analyze both of your answers. Sometimes, you might find the differences to be shocking, and other times they may lack any differences at all. Either way, analyze it! You may be surprised at what you find, and your reflections can further help you with your goals, obstacles, growth, or healing journey.
Before we start, remember AAA: Awareness, Analyze, Action.
Awareness: Become aware of your thoughts.
- The first thought that comes to mind, which often influences our behavior in ways we don’t always see.
- Our conscious thought, or our more “thought-out” answer to the question we ask ourselves.
Analyze: Compare and contrast the two answers. What do they mean for you? Is this a good thing? Is this something you want to work on?
Action: Based on your analysis, identify what this means. Do you focus on healing a past trauma you realized still affects you? Do you have a new focus, a new goal, or an obstacle you didn’t realize you had before that has been holding you back? Is there no action needed? It’s perfectly OK if there is no action needed.
Now that you know how this exercise works, let’s get started.
“What compliment do I wish someone would give me?”
The first thing that pops in your head, no matter what it is, write it down.
Then, before you start questioning why you wrote that compliment, start to seriously consider how you wish people would complement you.
Maybe you really want people to say how confident you are.
Or outgoing, funny, unique.
Then, take a moment to look at both of your answers.
If you find them vastly different, that’s okay. That might even mean you have grown! But our inner child that is hurt over our trauma can still exist within us, so our first thought isn’t always the most accurate of what we really want. Our first thought can be just a reaction based on trauma and hurt.
Our first thought can show us what we need to work on, or the values we focus on even at a subconscious level. In many cases, you might even notice the qualities related to your first thought on other people first. For example, if your first thought was that you wanted people to compliment you on your looks or weight, these might even be things you first notice about another person without even consciously realizing it.
What do these answers mean, and what is your next action step?
For example, maybe this means to work on healing from an insecurity.
“What would my ideal future look like?”
Once again, write down your very first thought.
Then, take a moment to think and answer again.
Is there a difference between your two answers?
Sometimes, the differences could be subtle. For example, one might be your true ideal future, while the other one might be an altered concept with lowered expectations.
After your write down your two answers, analyze what these differences and similarities mean.
Maybe you need to ask yourself if lowering your expectations is good for you.
Or maybe you realize that what you need to truly focus on is an obstacle that you considered when thinking about your ideal future the second time, but not in your first thought.
Finally, what action step would benefit you the most?
“If I met a friend I am comfortable with, how would I describe my life right now?”
Without just saying “It’s good” or “not OK”, how would you actually describe your life right now?
Once you write your two answers, analyze.
What do you think the differences or lack of difference means?
Maybe you find yourself talking about your obstacles the most in your first answer, but not in your second. Why do you think that is? Are you trying to “be more optimistic” or trying to focus on the positives? Are you being positive, but ignoring everything else? Does that way of thinking serve you?
Maybe it’s the opposite for you, and your first answer is really “positive” and your second answer is really “negative”. What does that mean to you? Are you happy, but still have obstacles you worry about? Are these worries a normal level of stress, or getting in the way of goals and life?
What if your two answers are the same? That’s okay! Instead of talking about the differences, write about the lack of difference in your answers that you see. For example, maybe the lack of difference makes you feel like you are “on track”. Or maybe you should analyze your answers in a deeper way.
What’s your action step, if any? Are you open to journaling or doing exercises to heal, gain more clarity, work on your goals, or break a limiting belief?
Getting more comfortable with these exercises? Try out these questions. Remember to write your two answers and then analyze.
- What parts of myself do I try to hide from others?
- What is something I am proud of myself for?
- Instead of putting pressure on myself, what are some ways I can reward myself?
- Am I where I want to be physically?
- Am I where I want to be mentally/emotionally?
- What makes me truly happy?
- What advice would I give someone else about what matters in life?
- What excuses do I tend to make to defend myself? (Also, are these excuses reasonable, or a crutch?)
- What does my soul crave the most?
- What is holding me back?
