In this post, we’ll unpack all you need to know about the Reticular Activating System, defining exactly what it is, its adaptive role in evolution, how it influences us, how to leverage it and more.
What Is The Reticular Activating System?
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a part of brain that filters incoming sensory information, allowing only the most relevant and important information to reach our conscious awareness.
The Evolutionary Perspective
From an evolutionary perspective, the Reticular Activating System evolved as a survival mechanism. It enabled humans to focus on what was most important and respond quickly to threats and opportunities without becoming overwhelmed by distractions.
Our sensory faculties are not designed to produce the most accurate representation of reality, but rather the most useful representation for survival.
How It Influences Us
The Reticular Activating System determines what you notice and what you ignore based on what is important to you by taking what you focus on and creating a filter for it.
Focus on what you don’t want and you’ll get more of what you don’t want. Focus on what you do want and you’ll get more of what you do want. If you focus on what’s right in your life, you’ll get more of what’s right. If you focus on what’s wrong with your life, you’ll get more of what’s wrong.
It is the RAS that is responsible for confirmation bias (whatever we look for we will find), negative bias (our tendency to give more weight to negative experiences) and The Law Of Attraction (we attract what we focus on).
We find what we focus on.
The Key To Goal Achievement
When you set a goal, your Reticular Activating System will begin to notice anything that is relevant to achieving that goal. Therefore, you don’t need to know how to achieve your goal, you just need to know what your goal is.
The RAS triggers the release of pleasure hormones when it notices anything that you associate with moving you towards your goals and it releases pain hormones when it notices anything that you associate with moving you away from your goals.
How To Leverage Your RAS
There are three primary ways you can leverage your RAS.
Firstly, goals. When you set a clear and compelling goal, your RAS will become incredibly acute at noticing anything that can help you achieve it. Thus, be as clear as possible on your goals and the life you desire.
Secondly, beliefs. Whatever you believe, your RAS will provide you with evidence to validate your belief, regardless of whether it’s true or false. Thus, creates beliefs that align with your goals and the life you desire.
Thirdly, questions. Whatever question you ask yourself, your RAS will provide you with anything that supports your query. Thus, ask questions that align with your goals and the life you desire.
By successfully harnessing the power of your RAS, you become the Master of your Destiny instead of a Slave to your Fate.
Summary (TL;DR)
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a part of brain that filters incoming sensory information so that only the most relevant and important information can reach our conscious awareness.
The RAS evolved as a survival mechanism to enable humans to focus on what was most important which ensured they were able to respond quickly to threats and opportunities without becoming overwhelmed by distractions.
The three primary ways to leverage your RAS are firstly, being as clear as possible on your goals and the life you desire and then creating beliefs and asking questions that align with those goals and the life you desire.
