Negative emotions can stem from both our subconscious mind and our soul. How do we recognize the difference?

This is a bit of a tricky question.

The subconscious mind and the soul both reside within the body, and both communicate through emotions.

However, the emotions they generate are fundamentally different. Despite this, we are not accustomed to distinguishing between them, and we lack the vocabulary to describe these differences. As a result, we often think that all emotions are the same.

They are not.

Negative Emotions from the Subconscious Mind

Emotions originating from our subconscious mind represent one side of the emotional spectrum. These are the most primal, reactive, and raw emotions we experience.

The reason for this is that the subconscious mind is wired for safety and protection. It operates from the reptilian part of the brain—the part responsible for our survival instincts, inherited from our cave-dwelling ancestors. It works in an instinctual, binary way:

Safe or unsafe, good or bad.

There are no shades of gray. Something is either desirable—something we crave, like food or security—or dangerous—something we fear or reject.

Here’s how it works:

• The subconscious mind scans our environment at an incredible speed, confirming: “All good, we are safe.”

• Or, it identifies potential danger: “Alarm! We are threatened—let’s run, let’s fight, we are at risk!”

Because of this survival mechanism, emotions driven by the subconscious mind tend to be polarized and very intense.

For example:

• A positive peak emotional state for the subconscious mind is falling in love or indulging in pleasurable activities.

• A negative peak emotional state for the subconscious mind is the pain of exclusion which feels like fear of death in the body.

The most defining characteristic of subconscious-based negative emotions is that they scream at us—because, to our mind, it’s a matter of life or death! Just like the searing pain from touching fire, these emotions are meant to protect us by forcing us to take immediate action.

In modern life, however, physical survival is rarely at stake. Instead, the subconscious mind reacts intensely to perceived threats to emotional survival—such as rejection, failure, or lack of love and acceptance.

Negative Emotions from the Soul

The soul also communicates through emotions, but in a different way. While the subconscious mind is loud and reactive, the soul speaks in a quiet, intuitive whisper.

The soul’s emotions act like a compass, guiding us toward our true purpose and authentic self.

For example:

• A positive emotional state for the soul is inner peace—a sense of coming home to oneself.

• A negative emotional state for the soul is a sense of disconnection—feeling out of alignment.

Unlike the subconscious, which is binary (yes/no, good/bad), the soul’s emotions are nuanced, subtle, and gentle.

They:

• Offer guidance rather than forceful reactions

• Are never aggressive or urgent

• Can be ignored—but doing so over time leads to persistent discomfort or even physical pain (they are a message for us!)

While the subconscious mind reacts based on past conditioning, the soul’s emotions arise from wisdom. They lead us toward peace, authenticity, and fulfillment.

Differentiating Mind-Based Resistance from Soul-Based Resistance

Being able to distinguish between subconscious-based and soul-based resistance is a powerful skill.

Both types of emotions are important.

• Negative emotions from the subconscious mind highlight wounds, fears, or unprocessed traumas. They call us to heal and integrate the disconnected aspects of ourselves, to allow us to evolve.

• Negative emotions from the soul signal that we are out of alignment with our true self or purpose.

Subconscious Resistance Sounds Like:

“I don’t like this.”
“It’s too difficult, I can't be bothered.”
“I’m scared of failing, so I won’t do it.”
“I fear rejection, so I won’t try.”
“This is suffocating me—I need to escape.”

This type of resistance is fear-based and rooted in past experiences. It acts as a bridge, connecting us to the shadow or unconscious side, urging us to integrate aspects of ourselves that have been rejected. The best approach here is self-awareness, acceptance, integration, and taking action despite the perceived fear.

Soul Resistance Sounds Like:

“Something feels off.”
“This doesn’t resonate with me.”
“I know I should do this, even if I feel afraid.”
“I’m aware this isn’t good for me, yet I keep doing it.”
“This prevents me from expressing my true self.”

Soul resistance is not based on fear, it’s a sign that something is misaligned. The best approach is listening and making necessary life changes to reconnect with our truth.

Conclusion

By learning to tune into our emotions, we can distinguish between subconscious fear and the soul’s guidance, this is a subtle art to master!

Subconscious fears require healing and courage, while the soul’s whispers invite us to embrace change and realign with our authentic path.

The key is cultivating awareness and listening—to both the loud, instinctual signals of the subconscious and the gentle, intuitive guidance of the soul.