Ever had that experience where you’re thinking of buying something new – like a car for example – and then you see that car absolutely everywhere you go?
Obviously 10x more of that particular model of car haven’t suddenly materialized into existence out of nowhere, they were always there. So why do we suddenly notice them subconsciously?
This phenomenon happens because of a very specific part of our brains called the Reticular Activating System (Or RAS for short).
The RAS can help us, or cripple us
The RAS has a couple of roles, but this particular function is for your subconscious to highlight things in the world around you, that are relevant to your current conscious points of focus.
In simple terms, this means that what you think about, you start to see in the world around you.
It’s kind of like your subconscious highlighting stuff with great big flashing neon signs while shouting “LOOK AT THIS, IT’S RELEVANT TO YOU!”.
So, if we choose to focus on negative thought patterns and self-talk such as;
- I’m not good enough
- There’s not enough money in the world
- Everyone’s broke
- People don’t like me
- I can’t be successful
Then your RAS spends all day putting big neon signs around all the negative things while shouting “SEE LOOK, THIS CONFIRMS THAT THERE’S NOT ENOUGH MONEY IN THE WORLD”.
We can only see what we choose to believe, because our RAS just filters out all of the millions of opportunities around us that could help us be vastly more successful, or that confirm there’s more than enough for everyone.
It’s human nature for us to try and look externally for the answers, but if we try and look out into the world for opportunities to become successful and financially free, while at the same time believing deep down that it’s not possible for us, then every single opportunity that appears is instantly dismissed by our RAS.
It’s like walking out your front door blindfolded and with oven mitts on your hands, then trying to find pound coins on the street. Obviously you’d be a lot better off taking the gloves and blindfold off first…
A live example in action
I was on the train a couple of days ago (Alternator in my car packed up and I broke down in the middle of a roundabout – that was fun…) and I suddenly noticed this sign:
6-12 months ago I would never in a million years have paid the slightest bit of attention to this, or even registered it in any way whatsoever.
However this has been a recurring theme in my own personal development, and also in many of the emails I’ve been sending you over the last few months. It’s very relevant to me, it means a lot to me, and because of that it jumped out to me like a big neon sign.
Imagine on the other hand someone sitting in my same seat who spends all their time focusing on doom and gloom, financial scarcity, and negativity in the world. A person may have been sitting below that sign reading a paper with the headline “More financial problems for big banks, savers hit hard” for example.
I’d never have spotted it, but for someone else that may have been the only thing they’d have spotted. They would never even have noticed the positive sign above it.
So here’s the message
Make the choice to focus all of your attention on the positive thought patterns and self talk that will take you closer to your goals. As you start doing this more and more, your RAS will start to shift its focus and you’ll start to see the world in an entirely different light.
Everything’s still the same, but somehow it looks completely different. The world seems vibrant, bright, filled with opportunity, and you feel so much more fulfilled. It’s all a choice, and as with everything, it starts between your ears.
If you want to read a great book on self-talk (That’s where it all begins), I’d recommend “What To Say When You Talk To Yourself” by Shad Helmstetter. You can buy it off Amazon here.
I’ll speak to you soon,
Dan
Dan Holloway – Founder of Scrap the 9 to 5 Ltd
SFM Elite & DEA Black Member of the SFM/DEA
