Saturday, February 08, 2025

Opinion

Image used for illustartive purpose only.| Image Credit: Navida Sait

Layers of the mind: Why it remains a mystery

The human mind is fascinating but it’s also one of the biggest mysteries we face, observes Navida Sait, who explores the complex layers of the mind in the following article.

By Navida Sait

info@thearabianstories.com

Monday, February 3, 2025

Sometimes, we don’t understand why we feel a certain way or why we act without thinking. Have you ever wondered why that happens?
That happens because many of our thoughts pass through our minds without us consciously focusing on them.
Psychoanalysis, the study of how the mind works, looks into various thoughts and feelings, but these thoughts and feelings can seem very puzzling at times.
The unconscious mind
In psychoanalysis, much of what happens in our mind is believed to be happening ‘behind the scenes’. There is a mind which is deep inside; one that is called the unconscious mind. When Sigmund Freud introduced the idea, he compared the unconscious mind to an iceberg. What you see above the surface is only a small part of the whole, while most of it lies deep within, hidden under water.
The unconscious mind consists of memories, fears and desires that we may not be fully aware of, but they still influence how we act. For example, when we feel nervous about giving a speech, it might not just be the speech itself, it could be tied to deeper feelings like a fear of being judged or any previous experiences in the past.
Dreams and their meanings
Dreams are one of the ways in which the unconscious tries to communicate with us. Even if a dream is good or bad, it would have a meaning that is hidden. For example, dreaming about falling might mean you are feeling out of control in real life. Freud believed that dreams show us things we might not realise when we are awake.
Three layers of the mind
Have you ever said something and immediately thought why did I say that? This happens because different parts of our mind can clash with one another. Freud identified three distinct parts of the mind: the id, the ego, and the superego.

  • The id desires for whatever feels good right now.
  • The superego tells us what is right and wrong.
  • The ego tries to keep a balance between the two
    For example, imagine the above as an apple which is layered up into three parts. The inner part, which is brighter is called id. This innermost part with unchecked desires can lead to destruction. The outermost layer (the bright red) is the superego. The superego is the layer which holds the moral compass that tells us what is right or wrong. If superego is too rigid then life becomes restrictive and joyless. In between the id and the superego lies ego; it controls the balance between them, allowing the individual to flourish like a perfectly ripe apple.
    If these parts are not in harmony, we might say or even do things that surprise us. However, even when the mind is so complicated, trying to understand it can help us in many ways. We can uncover why we feel stuck, anxious or confused. It can also help us understand other people better. Also, we may never solve all the mysteries of the mind, exploring them only helps us grow and heal.
    The mind may always feel mysterious, but that’s why mind is so incredible.

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