I'm not sure what you mean by "sub-conscious." Are you referring to the inner desires of what you actually want--free from societal structure, external and internal expectations, and fear? It seems like this sort of self-reflection can be accessed in the conscious mind. If you're referring to the part of the mind of which we're not fully aware, how do you know if you're truly being guided by your sub-conscious versus some other external stimulus?

For me self-reflection is driven by mindfulness. Taking a step back to gauge my physical, emotional, and mental reactions to my daily experiences, short term and long term goals, and anxieties is something that helps me figure out where I'm going. As I sit prepping for exams, it's helpful for me to take a step back and say, "My mind says I'm stressed right now, but what does that actually feel like? Where does stress corporeally hurt and why?"

In terms of more ambitious questions that expand beyond the scope of the present, I use a diary where I confess a lot of these ideas amongst the other mundane issues that fly through my head. Every once in a while, I enjoy taking a step back and reading through it and asking: (1) what are you really scared of? (2) what do you want and why? (3) what do the people most important to me say I should want and why? (4) what do my friends and colleagues want, and how much of what I want is influenced by them?

I think the answer to these questions may not be as hidden deep down as one might think.

-- AjGarcia - 04 May 2012