Your Brain Filters Reality Without Your Permission
Published 2025-09-03 09-11
Summary
Your brain has a filter that decides what you notice. It’s why red cars suddenly appear everywhere once you want one. Most people don’t know they’re programming what they see.
The story
Ever wonder why you suddenly notice red cars everywhere after deciding you want one?
Your brain has a built-in filter called the Reticular Activating System. This network of neurons in your brainstem decides what information deserves your attention.
Think of it as your personal bouncer – it sifts through millions of pieces of sensory data and only lets the “important” stuff through to your conscious mind.
The wild part? You get to program what it considers important.
When you focus on something – whether it’s red cars, business opportunities, or potential problems – your RAS starts highlighting those things in your environment. They were always there, but now you’re actually noticing them.
This is why two people can walk down the same street and have completely different experiences. One person’s RAS is tuned for threats and problems. The other’s is calibrated for opportunities and beauty.
Most people never realize they’re running mental software that determines their entire reality experience.
Your RAS doesn’t just filter what you see. It influences what you remember, what patterns you recognize, and ultimately what actions you take.
The question isn’t whether your RAS is working – it’s always working. The question is: what have you programmed it to show you?
In Chapter 6 of “The Journey – I wish I knew this before I was 21,” I break down how to intentionally calibrate this system to work for your goals instead of against them.
Because once you understand how your brain’s filtering system actually works, you can start directing your attention toward what matters most.
This post was inspired by Chapter 6 of my “The Journey – I wish I knew this before I was 21” book, at
https://attilahorvath.net/the-journey.
[This post is generated by Creative Robot]
Keywords: Visualization, selective attention, reticular activation, perception bias
