How the World Has Tricked Our Subconscious into Desiring What Harms Us—And How We Can Rewire It
TLDR - Our world has tricked our subconscious into associating positive emotions with things that are physically harmful—like processed foods, sugar, and bright artificial lights. We’ve been conditioned to desire what harms us, but the good news is, we can retrain our subconscious to love the things that actually nourish us and improve our well-being.
Introduction: How Our Subconscious Stamps Emotions onto Experiences
The subconscious mind is powerful. It works by stamping emotions onto the sensory experiences we have—sights, smells, tastes, sounds—creating a mental map of what feels good and what feels bad. This process evolved to help us avoid danger and seek pleasure. In its natural state, it’s a helpful tool for survival. For example, if we eat a nutritious meal, our subconscious stamps positive emotions onto that experience, encouraging us to seek out similar foods in the future.
But over time, our world has manipulated this process, tricking us into associating positive emotions with things that are physically harmful. The modern food and tech industries have capitalized on this, feeding our subconscious positive emotional triggers for things that damage our health, like processed foods, sugar, and screen addiction. The result? We’re conditioned to desire things that are hurting us, often without even realizing it.
Processed Foods and Sugars: Tricking Us into Craving Harmful "Treats"
From an early age, most of us have been conditioned to associate processed foods and sugary treats with happiness, celebration, and reward. Think about it—birthday cakes, candies on Halloween, desserts after a good meal. These foods are presented as special, something to be craved and enjoyed. Our subconscious stamps positive emotions onto these experiences, linking the taste of sugar and processed foods to feelings of joy and satisfaction.
However, the reality is that these foods are physically harming us. Processed foods are filled with chemicals, preservatives, and sugars that lead to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and a host of other health issues. Yet, because our subconscious has been conditioned to associate these harmful foods with pleasure, we continue to crave them, often despite knowing the damage they’re doing.
Example: We know that eating fast food or sugary snacks is bad for our health, but because of the emotional association we've developed over time, we’re tricked into feeling like it’s "worth it" for the temporary satisfaction. Our world has made us believe that sacrificing our health is an acceptable trade-off for momentary pleasure.
Screen Addiction: Bright Lights and Blue Light Tricking Our Senses
When screens first entered our lives—televisions, computers, and now smartphones—we didn’t realize the long-term effects they would have on our health. Over time, bright blue-lit screens became synonymous with work, entertainment, and connection. The world stamped positive emotions onto our interactions with screens, making us crave them more and more.
However, what we didn’t know early on is how much these bright lights, especially blue light, disrupt our circadian rhythm. Blue light from screens affects our sleep cycles, hormonal balance, and overall well-being. Yet, we’ve been tricked into desiring more of it, to the point where people will even sacrifice sleep and relaxation to binge-watch a show or scroll through social media late into the night.
Example: We’re biologically wired to be attuned to natural light, which regulates our sleep-wake cycles. But our modern world has hacked this system, bombarding us with artificial light that makes us crave stimulation when we should be winding down for sleep. The result? Disrupted sleep patterns, increased stress, and long-term health impacts, but our subconscious has been trained to seek it out.
Consumer Culture: Buying Happiness Through Materialism
Another way our subconscious has been manipulated is through the consumer culture that convinces us happiness can be bought. From a young age, we’re told that purchasing new things—clothes, gadgets, cars—will bring joy and satisfaction. Advertisements stamp positive emotions onto consumer goods, making us believe that we need these products to feel happy, successful, or fulfilled.
Yet, the satisfaction from material possessions is fleeting. Over time, we accumulate more "stuff" without feeling genuinely happier or more fulfilled. This endless cycle of consumption often distracts us from the deeper emotional needs that material things cannot satisfy.
Example: We’re tricked into thinking that buying the latest phone or the newest fashion trend will make us feel more confident or successful. But once the novelty wears off, we’re left feeling empty, craving the next thing that promises to bring happiness.
Why Do We Let This Happen?
Why do we allow ourselves to be tricked into desiring things that harm us? The answer lies in how the subconscious works. When we experience something, our subconscious stamps that moment with the emotions we felt at the time. When we eat a sugary treat or get hooked on a new phone, the feelings of excitement, pleasure, and reward get stored in our subconscious. Over time, we come to associate those sensations with the object or experience, and our brain craves them again and again, regardless of the harm they cause.
Our modern world has mastered the art of triggering our pleasure centers, using food, technology, and materialism to tap into our subconscious and trick it into wanting more. The result? We’re often stuck in cycles of desire for things that don’t serve our long-term well-being.
The Power of Reprogramming the Subconscious
The good news is that we have the ability to retrain our subconscious. If our subconscious can be tricked into desiring processed foods, addictive screens, and material possessions, it can also be reprogrammed to desire things that are healthy and nourishing.
Retraining Our Subconscious to Love Whole Foods: Imagine if we could experience the same joy from eating whole, nourishing foods as we currently do from eating processed treats. It’s possible! By consistently choosing whole foods and being mindful of how we feel when we eat them, we can train our subconscious to associate those healthy foods with positive emotions.
Action: Start by intentionally connecting positive emotions with eating whole foods. Focus on the taste, the nourishment, and how good your body feels after eating them. Over time, your subconscious will start to associate these foods with pleasure, just as it has with sugary treats.
Rewiring Our Relationship with Technology: We’ve been trained to crave the instant gratification of screens and notifications. But we can rewire this relationship by creating boundaries and focusing on how much better we feel when we disconnect from artificial light and reconnect with natural rhythms.
Action: Set aside specific times to be screen-free, especially in the evening, and replace that time with activities that promote relaxation and health, like reading, meditating, or spending time outdoors. Over time, your subconscious will start associating these healthier habits with positive emotions, making it easier to break free from screen addiction.
Focusing on Non-Material Joys: Instead of looking to material possessions for happiness, we can retrain our subconscious to find joy in non-material experiences, like spending time with loved ones, being in nature, or engaging in creative pursuits.
Action: When you feel the impulse to buy something to feel better, pause and ask yourself if there’s a non-material way to satisfy that need. Gradually, your subconscious will begin to associate happiness with experiences, not things.
Reflecting Thoughts
What if you were able to quit craving dessert after every meal? Imagine finishing a meal and feeling completely satisfied without the need for something sugary. By reprogramming your subconscious, you could break free from those cravings, allowing your body to feel content without added sugars. What would that freedom feel like?
What if you didn’t need ketchup with all your food? Often, we rely on condiments to make food more enjoyable, but what if you could fully appreciate the natural flavors of whole foods? By retraining your taste buds and subconscious, you could find real satisfaction in nutrient-dense meals without needing extra additives to feel satisfied.
What if you didn’t need soda to feel satisfied? Soda and other sugary drinks trick our subconscious into thinking we need them for refreshment, but they can harm our health. What if you could feel just as satisfied by hydrating with water or natural beverages? Breaking the association between soda and satisfaction could lead to better health and more balanced energy.
What if you could eat whole, nutrient-dense foods and feel like it was the best food you’ve ever had? Imagine genuinely craving foods that nourish your body and leave you feeling energized and healthy. By shifting your mindset and retraining your subconscious, you could come to love healthy foods just as much—if not more—than the processed treats you once desired.
What if you truly wanted to exercise daily? What if exercise felt less like a chore and more like a natural, enjoyable part of your day? By focusing on how good you feel during and after physical activity, you can train your subconscious to look forward to exercise, making it an effortless and rewarding habit.
What if your cravings aligned with your health goals? What if the foods and habits that you genuinely wanted also contributed to your long-term health and well-being? No more internal struggle between what you crave and what’s good for you—just a natural desire for what makes you feel your best.
What’s the downside of changing what your body wants to align with what makes you feel healthy? When your mind and body are in alignment, you’ll feel better, live healthier, and enjoy a greater sense of satisfaction. So why resist changing those desires when the rewards are so great?