Ever wonder why you see that car everywhere once you start shopping for it

PURPOSEDESIGN

Jun 8

You know that weird moment when you decide you want a Honda Civic, and suddenly it’s like every third car on the road is a Honda Civic? Or when you’re thinking about getting a golden retriever and boom, golden retrievers are literally everywhere you look?

If you’ve ever wondered whether the universe is playing some cosmic joke on you, I’ve got good news: you’re not losing your mind, and it’s not magic. Your brain is just doing something absolutely fascinating that most people never realize is happening.

Meet your brain’s personal bouncer

Here’s what’s really going on: you’ve got this incredible system in your brain called the Reticular Activating System, or RAS for short. Think of it as the world’s most sophisticated bouncer, standing at the door of your consciousness and deciding what gets in and what stays out.

Every single second, your brain is getting absolutely bombarded with information. We’re talking about roughly 11 million bits of data hitting your senses at any given moment. That’s like trying to drink from a fire hose while juggling flaming torches, completely overwhelming.

So your RAS steps in like a superhero and says, Hey, let me handle this chaos for you. It filters through all that noise and only lets the important stuff reach your conscious awareness. It decides what’s important based on what you’ve been thinking about lately.

Car shopping phenomenon explained

When you start seriously considering buying a specific car, something magical happens in your brain. You’re not just casually browsing anymore, you’re emotionally invested. You’re imagining yourself behind the wheel, thinking about the monthly payments, picturing it in your driveway.

This emotional investment sends a clear signal to your RAS: This car is now important to me. Please start paying attention to it.

And just like that, your brain’s bouncer gets new instructions. Suddenly, every silver Toyota Camry that was previously invisible background noise becomes a spotlight moment. Your RAS is now programmed to notice them, and notice them it does, with remarkable efficiency.

The cars were always there. The same number of Honda Civics were driving around your neighborhood last month as this month. But your brain wasn’t filtering for them because they weren’t relevant to your goals or interests. Now they are, so your RAS has essentially put on car-spotting goggles and can’t help but point them out.

It’s not just cars: it’s everything

This phenomenon happens with way more than just vehicles. Ever notice how pregnant women seem to be everywhere once you or someone close to you gets pregnant? Or how you suddenly hear your name being mentioned in conversations across crowded rooms?

Your RAS is constantly updating its filters based on what’s occupying your mental real estate. When something becomes emotionally significant or goal-relevant, your brain essentially creates a new search algorithm for that specific thing.

Some common examples:

job opportunities in your field appearing everywhere once you start job hunting
seeing couples everywhere when you’re newly single (or vice versa)
noticing specific dog breeds after deciding you want that type of pet
spotting For Sale signs when you’re house hunting
hearing about a rare disease right after someone you know gets diagnosed with it

Science behind the magic

What makes this even more fascinating is that your RAS doesn’t just work with visual information. It’s processing sounds, smells, conversations, and even subtle environmental cues that relate to your current focus.

When you’re car shopping, your brain becomes hyperaware of:

car commercials on TV and radio
conversations about vehicles
car dealership signs you drive past
online ads for the models you’re considering
friends mentioning their car experiences

Your RAS is essentially turning you into a car detecting radar system, but you’re usually not even conscious that this filtering process is happening. It feels like the world suddenly got flooded with Honda Civics, when really your perception of the world just got a major upgrade.

Why this matters more than you think

Understanding how your RAS works isn’t just a fun party trick, it’s actually one of the most powerful tools you can use for achieving your goals. Once you realize that your brain is constantly filtering reality based on what you focus on, you can start being more intentional about what you choose to focus on.

Want to find more opportunities in your career? Start thinking specifically about what kind of opportunities you’re looking for. Your RAS will begin highlighting relevant job postings, networking events, and conversations that could lead to your next big break.

Looking for love? Get clear about the qualities you want in a partner, and your brain will start noticing people who fit that description in places you never would have noticed them before.

The key is specificity. Just like with car shopping, vague intentions produce vague results. I want a car doesn’t give your RAS much to work with. But I want a reliable, fuel-efficient sedan under $25K gives your brain clear filtering instructions.

How to use this superpower intentionally

Now that you know your brain has this incredible filtering system, you can start using it strategically instead of accidentally.

Get specific about what you want. The more detailed you are, the better your RAS can filter for relevant information and opportunities.

Think about it regularly. Your RAS prioritizes whatever you’re consistently focusing on. Make your goals a regular part of your mental landscape.

Stay alert to what you’re noticing. When you start seeing patterns or opportunities related to your goals, that’s your RAS doing its job. Pay attention and take action.

Be patient with the process. Just like it takes a few days of car shopping before you start noticing cars everywhere, it might take some time for your RAS to fully tune into new goals or interests.

The next time you’re convinced that the universe is conspiring to show you Honda Civics everywhere, remember: it’s not cosmic intervention, it’s your incredibly sophisticated brain doing exactly what it’s designed to do. Your RAS is like having a personal assistant who never sleeps, constantly scanning your environment for whatever you’ve told it is important.

You’ve got a goal seeking, opportunity spotting, pattern recognizing supercomputer between your ears that’s just waiting for you to give it clear instructions.

So the next time you’re shopping for anything, whether it’s a car, a job, or a life partner, remember that your brain is about to become your most powerful ally in finding exactly what you’re looking for. You just have to be clear about what that is.

Sources

James Doty on the neuroscience of manifestation | Stanford Report (2024)

How to manifest your future using neuroscience, with James Doty | UChicago News (2025)

Sharper Images: How the Brain Filters Out the Noise | Georgia Tech Research (2025)

Neuroplasticity and Its Impact on Goal Setting within Organizational Frameworks | Vorecol (2024)

Cognitive and psychiatric relevance of dynamic functional connectivity states | PMC (2024)