How Conscious Are You?
By Steve Ryan
Sigmund Freud is perhaps the most well-known psychologist of all time. His influential psychoanalytic theory distinguishes between the conscious and unconscious dimensions of the human mind, proposing that much of our behavior, emotion, and thought is shaped by forces operating beneath awareness. It is a fascinating framework—one that invites us to explore the hidden layers of the psyche and consider how unseen processes influence conscious experience.
Freud wrote, “The unconscious of one human being can react upon that of another without passing through the conscious.” With this and similar observations, he suggested that human interaction is often deeper and more complex than we realize. Our moods, assumptions, and reactions may be shaped by undercurrents we barely perceive.
Based on this idea, I often ask students in my classes a simple yet profound question: Are you conscious right now? If so, how do you know? The answers are rarely simple. Some point to physical awareness—“I’m awake.” Others mention attention—“I’m listening.” But is being awake the same as being fully conscious?
So I ask you, the reader: Are you truly conscious in class, in meetings, in conversations? Or are you merely present in body while your mind drifts elsewhere? How do you know the difference?
In A World Appears, Michael Pollan refers to being conscious as a “way of being present.” That phrase captures something essential. Consciousness is not simply biological wakefulness; it is intentional presence. It is choosing to direct your awareness rather than allowing it to scatter.
I strongly urge you to reflect on this idea. Be present in your classes. Learn actively. Absorb thoughtfully. Ask questions. Challenge assumptions. Seek clarification. This is how you engage your conscious mind—not passively receiving information, but interacting with it.
If you find yourself staring at the board or clicking through slide after slide without absorbing the material—while unrelated thoughts, memories, or worries roll through your mind—you may be functioning in what could be described as a kind of psychological unconsciousness. You are alive; your heart is beating; you have a pulse. Yet without engagement, your mind is not fully participating in the moment. Presence requires intention.
Freud described the unconscious as “real psychic…its inner nature is just as unknown to us as the reality of the external world.” In other words, much of who we are remains mysterious—even to ourselves. That mystery should not discourage us; rather, it should inspire humility and curiosity.
Scripture echoes this call to intentional awareness. Epistle to the Romans 12:2 states: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Renewal requires consciousness. Transformation requires deliberate thought.
Be mindful of this in every environment you enter. You possess one of the most extraordinary capacities in existence—the human mind. Use it well. Engage it deliberately. Allow it to question, to reason, to imagine, and to build. When you choose conscious presence, you are not merely attending class or sitting in a meeting; you are shaping your character, your future, and the future of those around you.
