Since the day we are born, we are constantly inundated with the influences and opinions of those around us. Over time these influences often shape our default way of thinking, unconsciously guiding our perceptions and decisions. Since we have thousands of thoughts every single day, we usually don’t recognize how often our mind is making interpretations and judgments about the world around us without our conscious consent.
When we identify and observe the hidden influences that impact our daily lives, we shine a light on how they direct our thoughts and behavior. Recognizing hidden influences in your life is the first step to identifying thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes that may be limiting your ability to find your true purpose.
The power of hidden influences
Hidden influences are the “secret forces that shape our life choices in both subtle and overt ways,” says Erik Nelson, the founder of Arctos360. Some of the most recognizable hidden influences include cultural norms, family influences, and social conditioning since they are present since childhood. In adulthood, negative hidden influences can subtly manifest into destructive common thought patterns, self-limiting beliefs, defense mechanisms, blind spots, and unmet needs.
There’s no doubt that how we are raised impacts our way of thinking, but letting this unconscious conditioning control your life unchecked may prevent you from uncovering your true values, abilities, and interests. Finding your voice amidst the noise is key to ensuring undesirable influences don't dictate your decisions - so you can live a purposeful life and reach your full potential.
Recognizing your hidden influences
It’s important to recognize the hidden influences in your life so you don’t hold them as facts but rather as what they are – influences. If you’re unsure of the hidden influences in your life, it can make it difficult to challenge the same old story you have always told yourself, inhibiting you from following your intuition and discovering your true purpose. Once you take the time to observe influences in your life, you become aware of your thoughts and emotions. This gives you the power to respond rather than react.
Uncovering your hidden influences
The key to uncovering hidden influences is finding ways to connect our unconscious mind with our conscious awareness, and there are many methods to do this. While it may take some experimenting to find out what works best for you, here are a few ways you can raise your awareness.
- Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a learned behavior for paying attention to the present moment without judgment. By separating an event from our response, mindfulness allows us to respond rather than react and better connect with others. You can become more mindful by taking a walk, evaluating all of your senses in the present moment, monotasking, and practicing yoga.
- Meditate. The EOC Institute indicates that meditation sharpens your sense of intuition, or “gut feel,” and increases mindfulness. Mayo Clinic further indicates that meditation reduces stress, anxiety, and blood pressure, while also improving sleep, attention, and memory. Once you use meditation to become an observer of your thoughts, you become less attached to them and enhance your intuition. Imagine intuition as a muscle - it needs to be trained to grow stronger.
- Journaling. Journaling “taps into our conscious and unconscious reasoning to provide breakthrough insights,” states Shannon Yocum, M.A., an Arctos360 Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach. You can use journaling to promote self-reflection and awareness to help you uncover unconscious influences. By recognizing hidden beliefs, attitudes, and thought patterns you can then bring this new awareness into your daily life.
Once you discover what your hidden influences are, you are more likely to uncover your greatest desires and sense of purpose. Being open to discovering your hidden influences is the first step to leading a healthy and purposeful life. Interested in learning more? Find out how Arctos360 can help you identify your hidden influences and start your journey towards true intuition and purpose today.
