“One of the most stunning things is that the degree to which you act is driven by mechanisms running under the hood.” — Dr. David Eagleman, a neuroscientist

John Cleese uses his brain when he sleeps, and in the morning, he always seems to know the answer to a problem. He sleeps thinking about an issue and wakes up with the solution. I often use this process, and so can you.

The story of the powerful human subconscious is a story few money gurus tell. It is the driver behind the majority of ALL our decisions, including decisions involving personal finances. The large, submerged part of the mind is a mystery that needs to be understood and embraced.

Most people believe that sheer force of will and self-discipline are all they need to make better money decisions. However, neuroscience demonstrates that that is not true. So powerful, influential and hard to govern is our unconscious mind that if we fail to understand it, we will repeatedly make mistakes with our money.

Is there a way to “hack” your subconscious mind so that you can make better decisions about your money and other areas of your life? Yes, make a solid, specific list of your five to 10 top financial goals. Many of us like to make lists.

Unfortunately, most of those lists are so vague and nonspecific that they aren’t beneficial when training the subconscious mind. Ask yourself, “What does success look like to me?” “What specifically do I need to do right now to make that happen?” “What do I want to with my life?” Write detailed descriptions of your visions and arrange them in order of priority.

A typical list might look something like this:

1. Finish (or start) a business degree.

2. Improve my credit score to 750 or higher so I can get better loan rates.

3. Pay off all my credit card debt.

4. Find a location for my business.

5. Hire a business coach.

Once you begin the process of writing specific goals, you’ll probably discover that you have many. However, if you want to keep your list short, only write down 10 goals at most.

That makes it much less daunting when you begin training your subconscious mind.

Start teaching your subconscious mind to OBEY. Your list consists of decisions you will make that will let you achieve your dreams. Unfortunately, the unruly unconscious mind will do everything it can to distract you and derail your plans. It will continuously find reasons it can’t do what you ask. Thoughts, observations and actions you put into your mind throughout the day DO make a difference.

Psychologists know that the subconscious mind suffers from what is known as “confirmation bias.”

It tends to perceive everything that is input in terms of the way you make it feel. You can overcome confirmation bias by using simple, positive affirmations throughout the day that train your brain to enjoy success. This concept might sound a bit like “woo” science, but neuroscience experiments have confirmed that it works.

Train your subconscious mind to seek and solve problems

It’s a human tendency, governed by your hidden mind, to avoid issues and discomfort. However, successful business owners, entrepreneurs and corporate leaders understand that embracing problems and learning to solve them is an effective way to train the subconscious for success. Make a short list of problems you regularly encounter and describe what you would do to solve them. Discoveries, improvements and progress often come from fixing previously encountered problems. Teach your brain to be on the lookout for complicated issues and then come up with solutions.

The subconscious mind is equal parts fascinating and frustrating. You cannot shut it off with the flick of a switch. Developing a deeper understanding of this fantastic submerged universe within you will allow you a more considerable measure of control and lead to better money decisions.

Lyle Boss, a native Utahn, is a member of Syndicated Columnists, a national organization committed to a fully transparent approach to money management. Boss Financial, 955 Chambers St., Suite 250, Ogden, UT 84403. Telephone: 801-475-9400.

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