Damn algorithm knows me too well...
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IG knows me all too well. It’s frightening and also sometimes delightful (raise your hand if you, too, have purchased something amazing based off an IG recommendation). 🙋♀️ And because my IG always seems to show me exactly what I “need,” this quote popped up during a recent scroll: This is spot on for how your thoughts and feelings shape your reality. Your mind has its own "algorithm," just like IG, that brings more of what you focus on into your life. Let's break down how this works and how you can use it to your advantage... Your Reality is a Reflection of Your Mind🪞 Your reality is a natural byproduct of all your thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and perceptions. Everything you experience is filtered through your mind, which determines what you pay attention to and what you ignore. This is where the Reticular Activating System (RAS) comes into play. RAS: Your Brain's Gatekeeper 🧠 The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network of neurons located in the brainstem that acts as your brain’s gatekeeper. It determines which sensory input gets through to your conscious mind, allowing you to focus on specific stimuli while ignoring others. Think of your RAS as a personal assistant, sifting through millions of bits of information around you and highlighting what’s important. It filters out over 99% of all stimuli, helping you focus on what matters. As you read this email, your RAS is blocking out countless stimuli – the whoosh of cars passing outside, the sound of your dog snoring beside you, the temperature of the room, the feeling of your clothing on your skin… you get it. How Your RAS Works for You 🙌 Your RAS is wired to notice things that are important to you. Have you ever bought a new car and suddenly started seeing that model everywhere? That's your RAS at work. It is attuned to recognize anything related to your interests and goals and is influenced by your emotions and psychological state. Directing Your Inner Algorithm 🎬 Here’s the cool part: you can use your RAS to your advantage to bring your desires and goals into reality. By focusing your thoughts and feelings on what you want to achieve, you can train your RAS to filter out distractions and spotlight opportunities that align with your goals. Here are some steps to help you align your RAS with your goals: 1. Set Clear Intentions: Be specific about what you want to achieve in your practice and life. Write down your goals and visualize them regularly. 2. Positive Affirmations: Use affirmations to reinforce your desires. Repeating positive statements can help reprogram your subconscious mind to focus on your goals. 3. Mindfulness Practices: Practices like meditation and journaling keep your mind settled and focused. This helps to align your thoughts and feelings with your intentions. 4. Surround Yourself with Supportive Energy: Surround yourself with people, environments, and resources that support your goals. This keeps your RAS tuned into positive and supportive stimuli. 5. Gratitude: Regularly practice gratitude to shift your focus to what’s already abundant in your life. This helps you attract more of the same. By consciously directing your thoughts and feelings, you can program your RAS to work in your favor. This doesn't mean you'll magically get everything you want without any effort, but it does mean you'll be more attuned to opportunities and resources that can help you achieve your goals. Trust in the process and let your mind's algorithm work for you. 🤍 Courtney |