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RAS Positives and Negatives
Positives
Do you know people who simply begin to focus on creating change in an area, and
then miraculously begin to achieve that change? They are the people in your
life who make change and success seem easy?
These people have most likely tapped into a mechanism in the brain, called the
reticular activating system, or RAS for short. While they may not even know
about this mechanism, they have most likely used it to gain their success.
This is a tool that each of us can use to bring about successful change in our
lives, and its probably at work. The brilliance is to make sure it is working
FOR us, instead of against us!
The RAS's function is simple and profound. It is a screening device in your
brain that determines what you will notice and pay attention to in your world.
Of course there are countless stimuli bombarding your brain at all times, and
most of it gets ruled out by the RAS…such as the noise other than this TV in your
home right now, the sights around your home other than the TV, etc.
The RAS lets in ONLY what you determine to be important at any time. And
it's ALWAYS at work….either unconsciously, or consciously. As an easy example,
the last time you were interested in buying a new car. When you had identified
the model and color of car, did you happen to begin to notice a whole bunch of
these exact kind of cars on the streets? Of course, you had unconsciously
sent the RAS out to screen in those cars for you…just by focusing on them as you
were making the new car decision. The same thing happens on a regular basis
in your brain. When you select an area of focus, your RAS brings in all
the signals it can on that topic.
The powerful thing about the RAS is that we have a choice as to what we send it
out to look for in our lives. We can focus on the good things that happen,
or the bad…the great characteristics of another person, or the bad, and on and
on. In everything that happens to us, there are many different views upon
which we can CHOOSE to focus.
For instance, when you are going to work or to run errands today, notice where
you are placing your focus…on what is good about the trip, or
what is bad! On the bad side, you could notice that traffic
is heavy causing the trip to be slow, and you to be later than expected. …. OR
you can focus on the good things that happen….the greens beginning to show in
the lawns, the flowers beginning to bloom, the extra time you have to enjoy the
morning air and sky.
Do a short experiment today, put an unusual make or color of a car in your mind
and focus there….think of how many times you've seen it in the recent past, and
let your RAS show you all the cars out there that you've been missing! You'll
see how well that mechanism in your brain works!
As you start to direct your focus, you'll find all kinds of things happening to
you. The RAS can screen IN things to assist your mood, your work output,
your energy level, your entire day! It's all in being aware of where you
choose to focus…and when it's not serving you well, change that focus!
Make it a powerful day!
RAS Negatives
Last week, we discussed the powerful mechanism in your brain called the reticular
activating system, or RAS for short. This is the screening device in your
brain that allows you to focus and screen in, or out, information in your life
that is important to you.
Today, I'd like to add more information about the RAS that will greatly assist
you in making change work in your life.
There is another very interesting attribute to the RAS. It doesn't understand
negatives such as don't, stop, or no. It simply disregards them!
Let's do a short experiment…..and those watching can do it at home as well.
I don't want you to think of the number 5, DON'T think of 5, stop thinking about
the number 5…..what are you thinking of? Of course, your RAS is focusing
on what it hears you tell it to do….and that is "think of 5".
Now you can understand why the child given a glass of milk and told "Don't spill
your milk", generally DOES spill their milk! The RAS is focusing on, "Spill
the milk!"
Another great example that I can attest to, is "I'm going to stop eating chocolate."
Now, it's early in the morning but most people watching are probably thinking,
hmmmmmm chocolate sounds good right now! Their RAS is bringing in the chocolate
hunger even as we speak!
So, you may be wondering, how do I correct for this, because I really DON'T want
my child to spill their milk, or I really DO want to STOP eating chocolate!
The key is to focus your RAS on what you WANT to do! REFRAME your thoughts
to ensure you are sending your RAS out to screen in the right things!
The perfect statement to keep the milk in the glass, or better yet, to get the
child to drink their milk is, "Drink your milk!". The best statement to
stay away from chocolate would be "Today, I will only eat healthy food!".
Where is your focus?
What are you screening into your mind, or keeping out?
Ensure that today you focus on what you WANT in your life, and your RAS will screen
in information to get you there! It's an incredible tool!
Make it a powerful day!
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