Behind the Mind written By Ashmita Annamalai Edited by Kavya Gurunath, Harvi Karatha,
& Ameya Aneja
layout by harini akurathi art by sharon pan
Our brain is perhaps the most complex organ of our body. Within it are three distinct layers: the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious minds. The subconscious mind makes up about 95% of your brain power and manages everything your body requires to function properly. The subconscious mind is not creative or logical, yet it remembers everything you have ever seen, said, or done. It controls your actions through emotions and instinct. The unconscious mind is somewhat a part of the subconscious. The other 5% of your brain, the conscious mind, interacts with the physical world through your senses. It helps you think and rationalize. The unconscious mind is somewhat a part of the subconscious. The other 5% of your brain, the conscious mind, interacts
45
with the physical world through your senses. It helps you think and rationalize. The main function of the subconscious mind is to store and retrieve data from your life. It ensures that you respond exactly the way you are programmed to. To do this, it makes everything you say and do fit into a consistent pattern with your self-concept, or a collection of beliefs you have of yourself. Your subconscious has a homeostatic impulse. It maintains your body temperature, keeps you breathing regularly, and your heart beating at a healthy rate (Tracy, 2018). Through your autonomic nervous system, it maintains balance among the billions of cells involved in your physical existence, creating harmony within yourself. It also practices homeostasis in your mind by making
