Tell me what you want, what you really, really want

You have probably heard the term “self-fulling prophecy”.  The meaning of that in psychological terms is that we create in our lives the things we believe about ourselves and our expectations.  An example we often see in students is they may continuously worry about an upcoming test and they imagine they will do poorly.  The chances are very likely they will do poorly due to the anxiety they produce will actually interfere with their cognitive ability. 

This phenomenon is the product of our brain’s command center called the reticular activation system (RAS for short) as it directs our focus to what we have set our expectations.  And focus is what the RAS is all about.

We are inundated constantly by millions of bits of stimuli.  The function of the RAS is to limit our range of focus to a dramatically smaller number of stimuli – roughly 2000 bits of information.  Were it not for this function, we would go insane or simply be immobilized as we sort through it all.  Here’s the amazing part; we can direct our RAS to seek solutions as we choose to focus on something in particular.  Our choice directs our brain to set that 2000 bit focus on THAT subject.  The things we think about, expect, and focus on are the things the RAS will focus our awareness toward.  Another example; have you ever had the name of something or someone right “on the tip of your tongue”, but just couldn’t’ remember it, then some time, even hours later, it suddenly pops into your mind?  You have given your mind a command, and your mind continued to look for the answer even though you were unaware, consciously, it was doing so.  Another example might be if you have ever considered buying a white car and suddenly, you notice that white cars are everywhere.  They were always there, but until they became important in some way, their presence was filtered out.

The thoughts we think instruct our unconscious mind, and the RAS, to seek out specific information. We would be wise to choose our thoughts with care.  It would serve us well to focus on the things that we WANT in our lives, the things that make us feel good, noble, capable.  Why so?  Because we will get what we focus on, whether it’s what we truly desire or not.  Imagine, if we focus on our failures, or the things we don’t want, the things that cause us to feel bad about ourselves, the world, or the people in it; what do you suppose the RAS will find for you – and bring into being?