A Request to Your Unconscious

"Never go so sleep without a request to your unconscious." - Thomas Edison

I have honestly never once thought about making a request to my unconscious before I go to sleep. Not once. But like all good ideas that drop into my awareness, once planted, I couldn't stop thinking about it. While I first read this in  Tiffany Schlain's book 24/6, I discovered later it was first said by Thomas Edison.

My mind is an interesting place to be. I am ADD (now referred to as ADHD), so my mind races down many random paths, making leaps and changes of direction that even I have trouble understanding sometimes.  There is a connection usually, but it can take a lot of digging to find it.  The side effect of that is my dreams can be pretty out there.  Some I refuse to even repeat. 

I can't stop wondering if there would actually be an effect if I did try and make requests to my unconscious before I fall asleep.  I guess that will have to be tested over time.  I will definitely need to keep a daily log as I often find ideas and experiences sometimes take a bit of time to work their way into my nighttime adventures.  In the past a scary movie might make it's appearance up to 3 months later. I am making the assumption that the same principle might also apply here. 

Another issue I will need to figure out is how to introduce this habit into my chaotic try to drop off to sleep routine.  A racing mind can be hard to tame when it's time to sleep.  White noise like TV or recorded sounds can help distract me.  Reading a good book can have either effect. It might draw me into the story in a way that I end up reading until 3 in the morning, or I might doze off mid-sentence.  So where do I tuck in my request to my unconscious that will work the best. 

And then there is the question of what to ask.  At this point I am thinking of next day, or a short term goals to start with.  That could include everything from cleaning tasks, to working on a chapter for a new book, to editing, to health goals like eating right or working out for that day.  All those are great short term goals for me.  I will try to commit to one request for one day without future expectations.  

A freelancer shared on Reddit what she found most effective was, "...going to bed visualizing that the next day is going to be a good day and trying to transform the energy of obligation into energy of change, of gratitude knowing that every day of work and every advance is a necessary part of my bigger goals." I love that.  We approach making our next day better in conscious way as well,  such as laying out our clothes and setting out anything we will need for the next day the night before. This can help to keep our morning calmer and less rushed. We are also less likely to forget something we might need. Working with our unconscious as well adds another layer of positive thought.

I am going to give myself a few days to think on this to decide what I request I want to start with and how to evaluate the results. It will be something small and clear, perhaps the first step towards a new habit I would like to embrace.  Or it might be one that helps rebuild my focus and confidence - something that will be harder to evaluate.  

Whatever direction I head, I think this idea is worth exploring. Mindset matters. What you focus on you becomes your reality. We have the freedom to choose, and our thoughts and feelings can create a desired life experience. As Buddha said, "What you think you become. What you feel you attract. What you imagine you create."