The 7 Best Phrases That Describe The Unconscious

The unconscious is a concept that almost all of us mention at some time , but of which we do not always know its true meaning, nor the profound implications that it entails. For this reason, it is worth going to some phrases that describe the unconscious and that provide clarity on the subject.

In colloquial terms, we call everything we do without realizing it or irresponsibly unconscious. However, in psychoanalysis, this concept goes much further. It is defined as a psychic structure that houses the repressed contents of consciousness and that determines some behaviors. The unconscious is that strange underworld that is revealed through dreams, lapses or failed acts.

Thus, this concept broke with the rationalism  of Descartes. Although the scope of the unconscious remains controversial, its importance in psychic life cannot be denied. These are some of those phrases that describe the unconscious.

1. One of the emblematic phrases that describe the unconscious

When you talk about these issues, you necessarily have to talk about Sigmund Freud. The father of psychoanalysis took the unconscious as an object of study. Several of the phrases that describe the unconscious are found in his work. This is one of the most emblematic: ” The interpretation of the dream is the royal way towards the knowledge of the unconscious “.

Until the emergence of Freud’s theory , many of the phenomena of the unconscious were not considered worthy of study. Among them, dreams. Freud, on the other hand, gave them the utmost importance. He found that they were encrypted messages, which gave direct access to the unconscious when they were interpreted.

2. The unconscious and destiny

Although Freud and Jung distanced themselves from classical psychoanalysis, Jung retained several of the central concepts in his theory. This is observed in the following statement: “ One does not achieve enlightenment by fantasizing about the light but by making the darkness conscious . What is not made conscious is manifested in our lives as destiny ”.

Freud had said that “the unconscious is destiny.” In essence, it means that unconscious activity determines most of our actions. We organize our lives in a way that obeys what the unconscious dictates.

3. Repetition

One of the aspects in which the presence of the unconscious is manifested is in the repetition of experiences. What we commonly call “tripping over the same stone several times.” When that happens, there is the presence of an unconscious determination.

This is one of the phrases that describe the unconscious in that sense: ” Everything that happens in our life is linked to the unconscious, because it is, first of all, the matrix of our repetitions, whether they are healthy or sick. ” The statement is by Gabriel Rolón and describes the nature of this mechanics.

4. Love in the unconscious

This is one of Erich Fromm’s phrases about the unconscious. Describe one of the mechanisms that operate in the fear of loving. It goes like this: ” While we consciously fear that we are not loved, the real fear, although usually unconscious, is that of loving. “

In it, it  is shown how paradoxical the dynamic between the conscious and the unconscious is. While the person believes that their fear is due to the possibility of not getting the love of the other, in reality what they fear is to love. To incubate a feeling that reveals its fragility.

5. The language of the unconscious

In this sentence we appreciate a description of the unconscious in communication terms: “ Almost all of our mind is unconscious. We have to learn to communicate with that mysterious part of our mind with its own language, and symbols help us to do that ”. The statement is by Elsa Punset and refers to the fact that the language of the unconscious is encrypted. It manifests itself through symbols. It also emphasizes the importance of establishing a connection with that reality of our being, which has much to reveal to us.

6. The cultural lies

John Grinder says this: “ We live in a culture that believes that most of everything we do we do it consciously, and yet most of what we do, and what we do best, we do it consciously. unconscious ”.

There are many messages that indicate the duty to keep circumstances under control and rationalize everything. However, deep down we would not be able to explain the reasons for a good part of our actions, simply because they are determined by the unconscious.

7. Some sense of humor

Facundo Cabral elaborated one of the phrases that describe the unconscious and its effects, in a very particular way. It goes like this: “ Don’t say I can’t even jokingly, because the unconscious has no sense of humor, it will take it seriously, and it will remind you every time you try! ”.

Although it is said in a hilarious tone, his statement is serious and corresponds to the classical theory on the matter. He talks about the unconscious commands, those that lead to act in such a way that a result is obtained in accordance with these.

We are still discovering the enigma of the unconscious. We all move between reason, the fruit of conscience, and the absurd, the fruit of the unconscious. Accessing that area of ​​our being is undoubtedly a fascinating adventure, which helps us better understand who we really are.