The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a small part of our brain that plays an outsized role in our perception. The RAS acts as a filter for the immense sensory input our brains receive every moment, allowing some information to pass through to our conscious awareness while blocking out other stimuli.
The RAS is powerful because it doesn't just passively filter information - our thoughts, beliefs, and focus control and shape what the RAS lets in. When we consciously focus on something, our RAS starts picking up on it more, bringing matching sensory data to our attention so we see more of whatever we are focused on.
Here is an example.
You buy a new car of a specific brand and color. After you buy the car, you start seeing the same make and model of your car everywhere, even in your color. On the highway, in the supermarket parking lot, in the pickup line at your child's school. Did everyone rush out and buy the exact car you did? Nope. Same # of vehicles as there has likely been, but your brain is just focused on them because you have one, so you are conscious "seeing," whereas before, your brain filtered out that information for you.
This has enormous implications for our self-perception. If we focus frequently on our flaws, failures, and doubts, our RAS will tune itself to notice more of those negatives, reinforcing our negative self-view. But if we habitually see ourselves positively, appreciating our strengths and worth, our RAS instead tunes into those uplifting signals, helping us perceive more self-confidence and capability.
The Impact of RAS on Self-Perception
Here are some examples of how tuning our RAS can transform our self-perception:
- Someone who feels they aren't creative constantly dwells on their lack of creative outlets. Their RAS filters out evidence of their creativity in everyday life. Someone who believes themselves creative makes a note of any small flashes of inspiration, tuning their RAS to pick up on their creative potential.
- A man who doubts his parenting abilities obsessively replays his mistakes with his kids. His RAS brings frequent parenting missteps to his attention. A father who feels he is a great dad notes his parenting wins, tuning his RAS to notice how he connects with and supports his children.
- A woman who struggles with body image hyper-focused on supposed flaws when she looks in the mirror. Her RAS zeroes in on magnifying her insecurities. But taking time daily to appreciate and affirm her body tunes her RAS to notice its strength and health instead of imperfections.
As these examples illustrate, by consciously directing our RAS through self-talk, affirmations, and focus, we can gradually reshape our self-perception from the inside out.
Fostering Positivity Personally and Professionally
Tuning our Reticular Activating System to support positive self-perception takes work but pays dividends for our confidence, performance, and overall well-being. Here are some tips:
Personal Tips
- Identify and write down existing strengths and accomplishments. Refer back to them whenever you feel self-doubt.
- Make time daily for positive self-talk and affirmations about your abilities and qualities.
- Counterbalance every negative thought with two positive ones.
- List things you feel grateful for about yourself and your life. Refer to them when you feel down.
- Seek out small wins and moments of progress to tune your RAS to your capability.
Leadership Tips
- Model positive self-talk and a growth mindset for your team.
- Catch people doing things right and offer praise.
- Remind team members of previous wins when facing new challenges.
- Foster a culture that rewards self-improvement efforts, not just results.
- Encourage peer-to-peer recognition and gratitude.
The RAS forms an essential bridge between our self-beliefs and perceptions. With care and intention, we can reshape it over time. We unlock our most significant personal and collective potential by learning to tune our RAS to positivity and possibility individually and organizationally.
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