Image from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556102/figure/article-28436.image.f1/?report=objectonly
During a session at TCEA, I heard mention of a part of our brain known as the Reticular Activating System (RAS) and our ability to focus, which sent me down an interesting “rabbit hole.”
Every minute we are awake, a tremendous amount of stimuli constantly inundates us, and our brains simply can't process all of it. The RAS is a small bundle of nerve cells located at the base of the brainstem that receives input mainly from our eyes and ears and decides what to do with that information. It prevents sensory overload by acting as a filter for incoming information, deciding what is relevant. The RAS is responsible for our ability to pay attention to what is essential, ignore distractions, and stay focused on our goals. After reading Carol Dweck’s book about using the Growth Midset, I was curious about how RAS played a role in achieving our goals and how we can use it to our advantage.
First, let’s look at a classic example of RAS in action. The RAS works by prioritizing information based on our goals and beliefs. Say you decide to buy a new Toyota Camry; your RAS will filter out all the irrelevant information and focus on the critical things to achieve this goal. We will start noticing Toyota commercials and Toyota dealerships, and suddenly you see every Toyota Camry on the road. Your RAS has identified this information relevant to your goal and is bringing it to our attention (Health Tips, 2022).
When it comes to goal setting, we need to be specific and detailed about what we want to achieve (i.e., SMART goals). By setting clear and specific goals, we give the RAS a particular target to focus on. When we have a goal in mind, our RAS acts as a filter that screens out irrelevant information and prioritizes the necessary things for achieving our goal. However, more than setting goals is needed to achieve them. Our minds are filled with negative thoughts and limiting beliefs that can hinder our progress. These negative thoughts can trigger our RAS to filter out the positive stimuli that can help us achieve our goals. That's why it's essential to learn how to beat these negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones (Shaw, n.d.).
For more information about goals and RAS, check out these resources.
RASle Dazzle: Using Your Reticular Activating System | Ep. 53 by Potential Podcast
References:
Health Tips. (2022, June 9). Dr. Andrew Huberman on reticular activating system (RAS) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruBJYNKKKXY
Shaw, M. (n.d.). How to beat your negative thoughts. HeadStartPro Performance Training. Retrieved February 1, 2023, from https://headstartpro.com/how-to-beat-your-negative-thoughts/
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