Thinking no more depends on our conscious contact with it than walking depends on our continuously keeping track of the position of our arms and legs.
Proof: after learning how to ride a bicycle, the ability remains within, despite having not ridden one for many years. Just get on and go! How is this?
These actions require constant balance, rhythm, distance perception… our brain is thinking from “stored consciousness” enabling us to walk or ride.
This is good because stored consciousness frees up the “conscious” part of the brain to handle more complex tasks- using our example- thinking about avoiding dangerous potholes in the road, or deciding to continue or turn back if it rains.
Knowing that we have these two kinds of consciousness gives us a choice. What if we could bring both types of consciousness to bear? We can.
With practice it is highly effective.
But we can be tricked into using stored consciousness decisions when the unexpected arrives. The popular phrases “snap judgment” “coulda, woulda, shoulda” are words of regret for lack of conscious thinking. “Ballpark decisions” and “knee jerk reactions” are similar excuses.
Next time you are surprised by something that demands a decision, I would challenge you to schedule an appointment with yourself, to think about it later. Start with small stuff, until you prove to yourself this works.
Now, put the issue out of your conscious mind until the appointment is due. Try hard to do this. Try harder.
Scheduling time with yourself to think on problems allows our stored consciousness flexibility to intuitively examine more than one solution.
At the appointment with yourself you now have two abilities; one from the conscious thinking part of the mind, plus another from the stored consciousness mind that has been working on the task over time.
Reactive is rooted in “stored consciousness”, what I call the autopilot mind. Responsive comes from our conscious, awareness mind.
Wishing you Peace and Abundance- Rob
Spiritkeep Positive Yoga 