I have always appreciated innovative thinking or creativity. It is this kind of thinking that allows us to live in such an advanced society today. But what exactly is ingenuity? What are the components and how does it work? Well, let me introduce you to RAS. RAS is Reticular Activation System. We all have it built into our brains. The RAS is a network of nerve pathways in the brainstem connecting the spinal cord, cerebrum, and cerebellum, and mediating the overall level of consciousness. Once you program thoughts into the RAS, they become locked in. For example… have you ever purchased a particular model car and then you start to suddenly notice those same model cars all over town, when you haven’t noticed them before? That’s your RAS in effect. All you have to do is affirm to yourself positive thoughts and these thoughts manifest themselves into reality. We can have negative thoughts sometimes and those thoughts go straight to the RAS and are made stronger. Then that can overwhelm us with negative thoughts. The good news is that we can change it.

All thoughts matter, because as you think…you become. This positive thinking is very real and fuels ingenuity. Talk about superpowers. The RAS is the reason why we learn new words and then we start hearing them everywhere. It’s why we can tune out a crowd full of talking people, yet immediately snap to attention when someone says our name or something that at least sounds like it. RAS in effect. Your RAS takes what you focus on and creates a filter for it. It then filters through the data and presents only the pieces that are important to you. All of this happens without you knowing it. The RAS programs itself to work in your favor without you actively doing anything.

Keep in mind that the RAS seeks information that validates your beliefs. It filters the world through the rules that you give it, and your beliefs are shaped. So, what does this mean? If you think you are bad at giving speeches, you probably will be. If you believe you work efficiently, you probably do. The RAS helps you see what you want to see and in doing so, informs your actions. Can you train your RAS by taking your subconscious thoughts and combining them to your conscious thoughts? Some say you can and that’s called “setting your intent” All this means that if you focus hard on your goals, your RAS will reveal the people, information and opportunities that help you achieve them.

So, I talk a lot about positivity and if you care about positivity, for example, you will become more aware of it and seek positivity. If you want more money, or to own your own business or whatever else you desire, and you set your mind on getting it, you will discover the right information which will help you do just that.

The Law of Attraction doesn’t seem so mystical anymore, does it? Focus on the bad things and you will invite negativity into your life. Focus on the good things and they will come to you, because your brain is seeking them out. It’s not magic, it’s your Reticular Activating System influencing the world you see around you.

These great people knew and understood the RAS:

• Movie star, Hedy Lamarr, invented the technology for radio jamming frequencies that turned into revolutionized weapons systems and helped create cell phones.
• Lisa Gelobter created Shockwave.
• Garrett Morgan created the gas mask and traffic light.
• An Wang created the device that helped spurn digital information technology.
• Tuan Vo-Dinh created the device that detects exposure to toxic chemicals.
• Vo-Dinh also uses similar technology in patent #5,579,773 which is an optical method of detecting cancer.

So how do we do this? It’s easy.

1. First, think of the goal or situation you want to influence.
2. Now think about the experience or result you want to reach in regard to that goal/situation.
3. Create a mental movie of how you picture that goal/situation ideally turning out in the future. Notice the sounds, conversations, visuals and details of that mental movie. Replay it often in your head.

There are many YouTube videos that cover and will train you on RAS.

I utilize this every day and always keep this uppermost in my mind. What we can achieve, and what we are able to achieve is because our RAS reminds us what to focus on. Lewis Grizzard always says, “Life is like a dog sled team, if you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes”.

What you think about, you bring about!

This article originally appeared in the Winter 2019 issue of CHOICES Magazine