I Decided to Change —

I've changed my mind" has been uttered by everyone at some point. It could have been anything from a career path to a relationship to a belief to something as insignificant as what to eat for dinner. But have you ever stopped to consider the question of who is actually in charge here? Did your mind change you, or did it change you?

The Perception of Authority We are taught to believe that we are in control of our thoughts from a young age. When we say, "I changed my mind," it sounds like we sat down, considered our options, and came to an informed decision. But neuroscience suggests that many decisions are actually made before we become consciously aware of them.

Even when we believe we are calmly "deciding," our brains are always busy taking in information, looking for patterns, and sorting through our emotions. It's possible that the decision has already been made by the time the conscious mind catches up.

The Mind as an Individual Agent Consider the instances in which you have had second thoughts or sudden insights. Where did that change originate? Often, it’s not a conscious process but a quiet rearrangement happening behind the scenes in your subconscious.

This begs the intriguing inquiry, "Are we the owners of our minds or are we simply passengers along for the ride?" The mind is always changing when we have new experiences, problems, or even just read a random article. Sometimes what feels like a personal choice is actually the result of countless unseen influences — from memories to emotions to social conditioning.

Growth or resiliency? It can be a sign of growth to change your mind, or it can be just a form of adaptation. The world throws new ideas at you, and your mind adjusts like software updating itself in the background. It's possible that you, the "user," only notice when the interface changes. The conventional notion of a fixed self is questioned by this.

Who exactly are we if our minds are ever-evolving and changing? merely a collection of thoughts responding to their surroundings? or something more extensive?

The Power of Being Informed It's possible that recognizing the change rather than changing your mind holds the real power. We are better able to determine whether we are controlling the ship or simply gliding along, the more aware we are of our thoughts. Take a moment to pause when you hear yourself say, "I changed my mind." Think about it: Was it me, or did the mind just keep changing itself, as it always does? You might discover the difference between living consciously and living on autopilot in that moment of reflection.

Influencers Who Go Unnoticed More things shape our minds than we often realize. Before we consciously "choose," our thinking is shaped by our culture, upbringing, trauma, desires, and fears. All of these silent architects shape our thinking. Our perceptions are subtly shaped by the books we read, the people we meet, and even the background noise of everyday life.

So when the mind changes, is it an act of personal evolution, or just another reaction to external nudges we weren't even aware of?

The stranger this question becomes, the more you investigate it. The "I" we refer to as the one making decisions may just be a story the mind tells itself, at this point. a reassuring illusion What if the mind is something you experience rather than something you control? Self-Dance and Mind-Dance Another way to look at it is as a dance between the mind and the self rather than a battle for control. Setting goals, picturing change, and pushing your mind in new directions are all things you do on occasion. Other times, the mind leads you — guiding your choices through instinct, emotion, or unseen conditioning.

Realizing this dance can actually lead to an odd kind of peace. It demonstrates that change is inevitable, constant, and frequently beyond our control. The key is not to fight it, but to remain aware of it so that you can identify the rhythm and choose when to follow or lead.