Conscious vs. Subconscious Mind: Who is really in Charge?

If you do not run your subconscious mind yourself, someone else will run it for you. – Florence Scovel Shinn

Have you ever made a choice that felt perfectly reasonable, only to notice you’re acting in a totally different way? You may promise yourself to start eating healthier, but you find yourself reaching for a cookie without even thinking about it. Or perhaps you remind yourself to stay calm in a stressful moment, but your emotions take over before you can collect your thoughts.

So, what’s going on here? Who truly leads your thoughts? Is it the part of you that thinks things through and is aware, or is it something deeper and more instinctive?

Our mind functions on two levels: the conscious mind, responsible for logical thinking, self-awareness, and deliberate actions, and the subconscious mind, a hidden force that controls instincts, habits, emotions, and deeply rooted beliefs. Although we tend to believe our conscious mind is in charge, research indicates that subconscious processes influence an impressive 95% of our daily actions and decisions. This highlights the significant impact of our subconscious mind on our behaviors and decisions.

This brings us to an interesting question: Which mind really takes the lead—the conscious one or the subconscious one? Is the conscious mind just watching decisions that our subconscious makes way before we even notice? Or can we actually step in, change those automatic patterns, and take charge of our lives?

Understanding the Conscious Mind: The Rational Captain of the Ship

Picture yourself as the captain of a ship, standing at the front and taking in the view, figuring things out, and sailing through unknown waters. That’s your conscious mind—the part of you that thinks, makes sense of things, and makes decisions. It’s where you feel in control, making choices based on logic and what you understand.

Our conscious mind is what allows us to:

Solve problems and think critically (What’s the best way to ask for a raise?)

Make deliberate choices (Should I have coffee or tea?)

Set goals and create plans (This year, I’m getting in shape!)

Exercise self-control (I won’t check my phone… okay, maybe just once.)

But Here’s the Catch…

Our conscious mind has very limited processing power, which means we often think we’re making every decision actively. However, the reality is that the conscious part of the brain can only manage a small fraction of the vast information bombarding us. Understanding this can help us become more mindful and intentional in our choices.

The subconscious mind is 500,000 times more powerful than the conscious mind with a capacity to process 20 million bits of information per second, while the conscious mind has the capacity to process only 40 bits of information per second, according to Dr. Bruce Lipton, biologist and author of Biology of Belief.

So, while we may believe we’re making decisions, most of our actions are actually determined behind the scenes by our subconscious mind—before our conscious mind even realizes it.

The Illusion of Control

Think about that time you got super angry and said something you regretted later. In that moment, you might’ve wanted to stay chill, but your emotions just took over. Or how about those mornings when you meant to wake up early but ended up smashing the snooze button five times?

Yeah, that decision definitely wasn’t made by the part of you that set the alarm the night before!

The conscious mind may be the ship’s captain, but the subconscious mind controls the ocean, the wind, and the undercurrents. You can steer all you want, but if you don’t understand the forces beneath the surface, you’ll be at their mercy.

If the conscious mind isn’t quite the powerful leader you imagined, you might be wondering who’s really in charge. That’s where the fascinating subconscious mind steps in!

You are like a captain navigating a ship. You must give the right orders, thoughts, and images to your subconscious which controls and governs all your experiences. – Joseph Murphy

5 mind-blowing facts about subconscious mind

The Subconscious Mind: The Silent Puppet Master

Think of your conscious mind as the captain of a ship, confidently steering the wheel. Meanwhile, your subconscious mind is like the vast, mysterious ocean underneath—deep, powerful, and often calling the shots, whether you notice it or not.

It acts like an invisible puppeteer pulling the strings behind the scenes, shaping our habits, emotions, and even our sense of self—all without conscious awareness.

What Exactly Is the Subconscious Mind?

The Subconscious mind is the part of our brain that:

Stores memories, experiences, and emotions—even those you don’t actively remember.

Controls automatic behaviors and habits—like how you instinctively reach for your phone or how you can drive home without thinking about every turn.

Influences fears, desires, and gut reactions—ever had a strong feeling about something without knowing why? That’s your unconscious mind at work.

Processes information at lightning speed—it’s constantly scanning your environment, making associations, and predicting outcomes before your conscious mind even catches up.

Doesn’t recognize the difference between reality and imagination—whether you physically perform an action or simply picture it in your mind, your subconscious treats both as real—activating the same neural pathways, triggering similar emotional responses, and even affecting your body in measurable ways.

The Power of the Subconscious Mind in Daily Life

Ever wonder why…

You keep repeating the same habits, even when you consciously want to change?
You get a “bad vibe” from someone without any logical reason?
A song from years ago gets stuck in your head out of nowhere?
You instinctively jump back when you see something that resembles a snake—even if it’s just a rope?

It learns through patterns, repetition, and emotional experiences, shaping our thoughts and behaviors without conscious approval.

In fact, studies show that by the time you think you’ve made a decision, your subconscious mind has already decided for you.

A study from the Max Planck Institute found that our brains make decisions up to 7 seconds before we become consciously aware of them.

Here’s the really interesting part: our unconscious mind isn’t inherently good or bad. It’s, in fact, a recording system that absorbs everything we experience— from our childhood, past failures, successes, and traumas to joys—and then uses that information to shape our present.

The Power Struggle: Who’s Really in Charge?

Imagine this: You wake up in the morning full of determination. Today’s the day! You tell yourself. You’ll eat healthy, finally start that project, and maybe even hit the gym. You feel in control—your conscious mind is calling the shots.

Fast forward a few hours, and suddenly, you find yourself scrolling through social media, munching on snacks, and putting off work. Wait a minute… What just happened?

If your conscious mind was in charge, why didn’t you follow through on your plan?

Why Do We Self-Sabotage?

One of the biggest signs of this power struggle is self-sabotage—when we consciously want something, but our unconscious beliefs and patterns pull us in the opposite direction.

For example:

You consciously want to eat healthy, but your subconscious mind craves comfort foods.

You want to be confident, but deep down, your subconscious mind holds onto past fears of rejection.

An old belief that you’re “not good enough” keeps you playing small, even if you consciously want success.

Your subconscious mind will always fight to keep you in familiar territory—even if that territory is holding you back.

The real trick isn’t about letting either your conscious or subconscious take charge—it’s about getting them to work together.

Our rational mind sets the goals, while our subconscious mind provides the fuel. If they work against each other, we remain trapped in a cycle of frustration. But when they work together? That’s when we unlock true transformation.

Final thought: Can we master our minds?

Absolutely! The good news is that while your subconscious mind is powerful, it can be changed.

First and most importantly, we have to recognize its influence. This is where self-awareness becomes important. When we start to notice and question our subconscious patterns—our automatic reactions, habits, and emotional triggers—we begin to reclaim our power.

We mentioned earlier that the subconscious mind learns through repetition—this is precisely where positive affirmations come into play.

Also, if it doesn’t recognize the difference between reality and imagination, we can benefit from the power of visualization.

Once we start rewiring our subconscious mind to align with our conscious goals, we no longer just react to life; we create it on our own terms, and that’s when incredible things begin to happen.

So, the big question is: How much of your life is truly driven by your conscious choices, and how much is just old subconscious programming on autopilot?