Your Brain's Filter: How RAS Shapes Reality

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" - Henry Ford

Have you ever noticed how after deciding you want a red car, you suddenly see them everywhere? Or how during pregnancy, the world seems filled with other expectant mothers? This isn't coincidence—it's your brain's attention filter at work.

What Is the RAS?

The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network of neurons in your brainstem that acts like your brain's gatekeeper. Every second, millions of pieces of information bombard your senses, but your conscious mind can only process a tiny fraction. The RAS decides what gets through to your awareness and what gets filtered out.

Located in your brainstem and remarkably small—about the size of your little finger—this neural network continuously scans incoming information and prioritizes what deserves your attention based on what you focus on, believe, or consider important.

If you practice yoga or meditation, you've been training your RAS already. When you focus on your breath during pranayama or maintain awareness during asana (physical postures) practice, you're strengthening your ability to direct this attention filter consciously.

How the RAS Works in Daily Life

We've all experienced the RAS in action:

• You suddenly notice red cars everywhere after deciding you want one

• The "pregnant woman phenomenon"—once you're pregnant, you notice pregnant women everywhere

• You hear your name called across a noisy room while filtering out other conversations

• After learning a new word, you start hearing it frequently in conversations and reading

These examples didn't magically appear—they were always there. Your RAS is now simply highlighting what matches your current mental programming.

The Shadow Side: When Our Filter Works Against Us

Just as yogic philosophy teaches us about samskaras (mental patterns that create our reality), the RAS can reinforce limiting beliefs about ourselves and our capabilities.

Consider this scenario: When you hold a belief like "I'm terrible at public speaking," your RAS automatically highlights every stumble, every nervous moment, every awkward pause—while filtering out compliments, successful moments, or evidence of improvement. It's not being malicious; it's simply doing its job of finding information that matches your current mental programming.

This creates what yogis might recognize as a form of mental suffering—we become trapped in patterns that don't serve us. The more we focus on perceived failures, the more evidence of failure our RAS serves up, creating a self-fulfilling prophecy that feels increasingly "real."

The Practice of Reframing: Reprogramming Your Mental Filter

Here's the empowering truth: we can consciously redirect this system through mindful reframing—much like how we redirect our attention back to the breath when the mind wanders during meditation.

When we deliberately ask ourselves "What evidence contradicts this limiting belief?" we're giving our RAS new search instructions. Instead of scanning for failure, it starts scanning for success. This literally rewires our perception by changing what information gets prioritized in our awareness.

A Practical Exercise: If you believe "I'm bad with people," try this reframe:

• "When have I had positive interactions with others?"

• "What compliments have I received about my social skills?"

• "Which relationships in my life are thriving?"

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Your RAS will begin highlighting these positive instances, gradually shifting your self-perception from "failure detector" to "success detector." This inner shift naturally reflects in how you show up in the world.

Making It Work for You

Research in neuroscience confirms what contemplative traditions have long known: our brains are remarkably plastic. Changing ingrained thought patterns takes time and consistent practice—just like developing a yoga practice or building professional skills.

The RAS responds to repetition and emotional intensity, so:

• Consciously redirect your attention to positive evidence

• Practice reframing negative thoughts as they arise

• Be patient with the process—neural pathways take time to rewire

• Always be aware to consciously choose what you let in

• Celebrate small wins to reinforce positive patterns

Your RAS as Success Partner

Understanding how your RAS works also illuminates why goal-focused thinking and visualization are effective tools for achievement. When you consistently focus on a specific objective—whether it's advancing in your career, deepening your yoga practice, or improving your well-being—your RAS begins highlighting opportunities, resources, and connections that align with that goal.

This isn't mystical thinking; it's your brain's filtering system working exactly as designed, making you more aware of relevant information that was always present but previously overlooked.

Your Next Step

Your RAS is always working, always filtering. The question is: what are you programming it to find?

This Week's Practice: Identify one limiting belief you hold about yourself. Then spend the week actively looking for evidence that contradicts it. Notice how your perception begins to shift as you give your RAS new instructions.

As someone who has worked with individuals in both wellness and professional contexts, I've seen firsthand how understanding and working with the RAS can transform not just how we see ourselves, but how we show up in our careers, relationships, and personal growth journey. The intersection of ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience offers us powerful tools for conscious transformation.

If you're curious about how your RAS might be working for or against your goals, I'd love to explore this with you. Feel free to reach out at arforyoga@gmail.com  to request for a free conversation about how we can align your mental filtering system with your biggest aspirations.