How can I use my brain’s natural filters to achieve success more effectively
photo credit: Aakash Dhage
Your brain comes equipped with an incredibly sophisticated filtering system that can be your secret weapon for achieving success, if you know how to use it properly. The key lies in understanding and intentionally programming your Reticular Activating System (RAS), your brain’s natural attention filter that determines what you notice and what gets filtered out of your conscious awareness.
Understanding your brain’s built in success filter
Your RAS is like having a personal assistant working 24/7 in your brain, processing about 34 gigabytes of information daily and deciding what deserves your attention. This golf ball sized network of neurons acts as a gatekeeper, protecting you from information overload while highlighting what’s most relevant to your current focus.
The fascinating thing about your RAS is that it can’t distinguish between real events and imagined ones. This means you can literally train it to work for your success by being intentional about what you program into it.
Setting clear intentions: Programming your success filter
The foundation of using your RAS effectively starts with crystal clear goal setting. Your brain’s filter responds to what you prioritize and focus on, so vague intentions produce vague results. When you set specific, detailed goals, you’re essentially giving your RAS precise instructions about what to look for in your environment.
Write down your goals with specificity. Instead of I want to be successful, try I want to increase my income by 30% within 12 months by developing three new client relationships in my target market. This level of detail gives your RAS concrete criteria to work with.
Your brain will then start noticing opportunities, connections, and resources that align with these specific objectives, things that were always there but previously invisible to your conscious awareness.
Daily visualization: Training your mental filter
Visualization isn’t just feel good fluff, it’s a powerful way to activate your RAS for success. When you vividly imagine yourself achieving your goals, complete with sensory details and emotions, you’re training your brain to recognize the pathways and opportunities that lead to those outcomes.
Make your visualizations detailed and emotionally engaging. Include how you’ll feel when you achieve your goal, what you’ll see, hear, and experience. Picture people’s reactions, the specific environment you’ll be in, and even the physical sensations in your body. The more real and emotion provoking your visualization, the more effectively it programs your RAS.
Practice this daily, ideally in the morning when your mind is most receptive. Your RAS will begin treating these imagined scenarios as important information, making you more aware of real world opportunities that match your visualized success.
Positive affirmations: Reinforcing your success programming
Affirmations work by influencing your RAS to prioritize information that aligns with your positive beliefs and aspirations. When you consistently tell your brain I am capable of achieving my goals or I attract opportunities for growth, you’re programming your filter to notice evidence that supports these beliefs.
Use present tense, specific affirmations tied to your goals. Say them out loud with genuine emotion behind them. Examples might include I confidently identify and pursue profitable opportunities or I consistently make decisions that move me toward my objectives.
Your RAS will mark these statements as important and create new neural pathways that support these beliefs, making it easier to spot and act on success oriented opportunities.
Consistent goal review: Keeping your filter sharp
Regularly reviewing your goals reinforces their importance to your RAS, keeping them at the forefront of your consciousness. This consistent reminder prompts your brain to actively seek out relevant information, opportunities, and resources that contribute to goal achievement.
Schedule weekly goal review sessions. Reflect on your progress, adjust your objectives if needed, and recommit to your vision. This practice maintains the programming of your RAS and ensures it continues working efficiently toward your success.
Building success supporting habits
Your RAS loves efficiency and will prioritize established neural pathways, this is why habits become automatic. By forming new habits that align with your success goals and maintaining them consistently for at least 28 days, you’re creating mental highways that your RAS will naturally follow.
Focus on keystone habits that support multiple areas of your success. Regular exercise, meditation, and strategic networking are examples of habits that not only program your RAS but also enhance your overall capacity for achievement.
Focused attention and strategic prioritization
Training your RAS requires directing your attention toward activities that align with your high performance goals while filtering out distractions. This means being intentional about what you consume, the content you read, the conversations you engage in, and the environments you frequent.
Create an environment that reinforces your goals. Surround yourself with visual reminders, inspiring content, and people who support your vision. Your RAS will naturally tune into these success supporting elements while filtering out contradictory information.
Behavioral consistency: Creating a success feedback loop
Aligning your daily actions with your goals creates a powerful feedback loop that reinforces your RAS programming. When your behaviors consistently match your objectives, you’re sending clear signals to your brain about what’s truly important, increasing your sensitivity to opportunities that facilitate goal achievement.
Track your daily actions and ensure they align with your stated goals. This behavioral consistency strengthens the neural pathways associated with success and makes your RAS more effective at identifying relevant opportunities.
Your brain’s natural filtering system is already working, the question is whether it’s working for your success or against it. By intentionally programming your RAS through clear goal setting, visualization, affirmations, and consistent action, you transform your brain into a powerful success seeking mechanism that naturally guides you toward your objectives.
Sources
Reticular Activating System
The reticular activating system: a narrative review of discovery (2023) – PMC (PubMed Central)
What is RAS & 10 Tips to Help You Achieve Your Goals in 2024 – Ann Richman Art
Your Brain's Hidden Filter: How To Use Your RAS To Achieve Your Goals – PM Success
Goal Achievement Research
How Manifesting Rewires Your Brain (Backed by Psychology) – Rae Francis Consulting
Neuroplasticity and Its Impact on Goal Setting within Organizational Frameworks – Vorecol
Rewiring your Brain for Success – Mind Soother Therapy Center
How to Rewire Your Brain: 8 Effective Strategies for Lasting Change – Re-Origin
The Science Behind Manifesting, Explained By A Doctor – Dr. Kim Foster
Habit Formation and Neural Pathways
The Neuroscience of Building Habits: Insights from Atomic Habits – Neuroscience Foundation
The Neuroscience of Habit Formation: How to Use Brain Science – Carbon Health
Quantum Physics Critiques
Quantum Mysticism is Stupid – Professor Dave Explains (YouTube)
Using Science to SCAM People: Quantum Manifestation Isn't Real – Professor Dave Explains (YouTube)
Quantum Physics and consciousness – Reddit (Consciousness Community)
Quantum Manifestation Techniques (For Comparison)
