Thoughts to Build On

Although the subconscious is the "storehouse
of memory," we do not nonnally learn by subconscious
exposure, but by conscious concentration. Often I have
"read" several pages of a book while my thoughts drifted
elsewhere, later to realize that I could not recall anything
whatever of what I had just "read".
All memory courses are based on intense, con-
scious concentration of attention.
And although the driving of your automobile
is largely subconscious, you must keep your conscious
attention watching for sudden, unexpected hazards if you
are to avoid them. Most automobile accidents are the
result of not consciously concentrating on "defensive
driving." You must keep your attention on the inattention
of other drivers.
The "absent-minded" person simply is the
victim of not paying conscious attention.
Much has been written about the vast power
and amazing ability of the subconscious mind. ( Indeed,
I, too, have written much about it.) And while the sub-
conscious mind does independently perfonn such amazing
feats as operating our bodily functions (heartbeat, breath-
ing, and all the rest) and through cybernetics may even
guide our personal destinies, let us not overlook the
necessary directing power of our conscious minds.
Our subconscious cannot reason. It can only
perfonn, in its own wonderful way, the tasks assigned to
it by our reasoning, conscious minds. So let us be ever
conscious that our conscious minds are the directing force
of our lives-for good or bad. Our conscious thinking
makes it so.