Why Your Brain Only Sees What You Focus On

Name: Why Your Brain Only Sees What You Focus On
Uploaded: 2025-06-10T21:42:21+00:00
Duration: 50 s
Channel: Jake Burhans
Description: In this brief motivational talk, Jake Burhans explains the role of the brain's reticular activating system (RAS) as a filter that highlights information…

10 Jun 2025 · 1 min

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In this brief motivational talk, Jake Burhans explains the role of the brain's reticular activating system (RAS) as a filter that highlights information aligned with our current beliefs and expectations. He illustrates the phenomenon with the common experience of suddenly noticing a new car everywhere after purchasing it. Burhans argues that if we anticipate a stressful, chaotic day, the RAS will surface obstacles that confirm that expectation, whereas a positive, growth‑oriented mindset will cause the RAS to highlight opportunities and smooth pathways. The core message is that we have agency: by consciously choosing optimistic beliefs, we can steer the RAS to shape a more peaceful and productive day.

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Here's a funny thing about your reticular activating system. What is the reticular activating system? It's that part of your brain that when you buy a new car, you've never noticed that car on the road before, all of a sudden you start seeing it everywhere. Your brain also works like this in regard to your day and your beliefs. So if you believe your day is going to be stressed out and you're going to have no time and things are going to go wrong, guess what? Your brain is going to find circumstances and situations to support that belief.. But if you think, hey, the day's going to go smoothly, we'll run into some challenges, but there'll be opportunities for growth, we'll, we'll get past them with ease, and you know, I will be able to get everything in my day— guess what? Your brain is going to look for situations and circumstances to support that belief. So at the end of the day, we choose how our life unfolds, and that is a great realization to have and will make your life a lot more peaceful and enjoyable.