How do you decide what to pay attention to in a world where an onslaught of images and messages is constantly delivered by way of a myriad of devices along with an ongoing scan of in-person threats, opportunities and attractions our brains must prioritize every second? How do you maneuver around the minutiae of everyday life and keep your focus trained on aspirations and achievement? One answer is to train your brain to navigate past the noise and focus on what is important.
Our brains are wired to filter information through the “reticular activating system (RAS),” located in the brain stem and thought to play a role in many important functions. The RAS contributes to the control of sleep, walking, sex, eating and elimination. Most important to goal attainment, the RAS can consciously focus attention on something, acting as a filter that tamps down the effect of stimuli and helping to prevent the senses from being overloaded.
