Subliminal messages are either visual flashes that appear too briefly to ‘see’, or they may be sounds produced at ranges that our ears cannot ‘hear’. All these messages are unnoticeable by our discerning conscious mind, but they are actually ‘seen and read’ by the receptive subconscious mind.Subliminal.
Messaging – Good or Evil?
Some people regard subliminal messaging as being evil, a way in which some people can manipulate the minds of many.
For example, an individual’s behavior may be influenced so that they purchase a certain product or vote for a specific political candidate.
These messages are also often sent to certain groups of people, without their knowledge or consent. Alternatively, there are others who see subliminal messaging as a helpful psychological tool.
It can be used for reprogramming an individual’s subconscious mind to either help them change a habit or improve their personal development.
Subliminal Messages are NOT Supraliminal Messages
Some people confuse or use the terms supraliminal and subliminal interchangeably. However, they have two significant differences.
Supraliminal messages are signals or stimuli that you can see and/or hear but are unaware that these signals are impacting your behavior.
A study showed this impact when experts studied the effect of different music on buyers’ behavior. In the study, the music inside a store was changed to French and then to German. The results revealed that when French music was played, French wine sold more than German wine.
Alternatively, when German music was played, German wine had higher sales than French wine. The questionnaires handed out revealed that the consumers were aware of the music that was played but they were not aware that it was influencing their buying decisions.
Subliminal messages can be similar to supraliminal messages except that the first contains signals that are below an individual’s threshold of consciousness or awareness.
Therefore, subliminal messages are not consciously noticed by the person, even if they try to discern what the message being sent is.
If a message can be consciously discerned, then it can no longer be considered as being a subliminal message.
How Long Does It Take for Subliminal Messages to Work?
The answer to this question varies from one person to another, but generally, a person can expect to see changes after a few weeks.
It usually takes 26 to 30 days to create minor changes in the subconscious, based on studies conducted by experts on the workings of the subconscious mind.
Strong changes may occur after 3 months and major changes after six months. How long it takes for these subliminal messages to work will also depend on how ready the person is to accept change.
Don’t expect to experience changes if you only try for a week. If you stop and start, you can expect your success to stop and start too. Reprogramming your subconscious may take time but it can be a very useful part of improving your mindset in targeted areas.