The reticular activating system (RAS) is a powerful network in the brain that acts as a filter for the information around you. It helps you focus on what matters most—often without you even realising it. Ever noticed how, once you start thinking about something, you begin to see it everywhere? That’s your RAS in action. This blog will explore how this fascinating part of the brain shapes your attention and perception.
As a long-time fan of Harry Potter, I’ve always been fascinated by the magical Room of Requirement—a space inside Hogwarts that appears only when someone truly needs it. This room provides exactly what the person requires. Imagine if such magic existed in real life.
In truth, we do have a form of this magic inside our brains: the reticular activating system (RAS). It’s a tiny yet powerful part of the brain that acts as a filter for the millions of stimuli we encounter daily. Our reticular activating system filters out unnecessary information and highlights what matters most to us at any given moment.
You might remember a time when you suddenly noticed your dream car everywhere. That’s your RAS working perfectly. It spots and prioritises what you’re focused on—whether it’s people, objects, or ideas.
Neuro coaching trains coaching practitioners to understand and harness this brain function. By aligning conscious goals with subconscious filters, neuro coaching helps clients attract the right opportunities and people to achieve their ambitions.
Your RAS doesn’t just filter by what you want—it filters through what you believe. For example:
Your beliefs create the criteria your reticular activating system uses to scan the world, shaping your reality. The power of neuro coaching lies in recognising this filter and learning to reprogram it for positive growth.
The key to making your RAS work for you is to ask it for exactly what you need—just like the Room of Requirement. Neuro coaching offers techniques to focus your attention on your true goals:
By vividly imagining your desired outcomes—what you see, hear, and feel—you continually remind your brain of what matters. Your reticular activating system then seeks out people, information, and opportunities aligned with your intentions.
For coaching practitioners, understanding the reticular activating system is a game-changer. Our Level 1 Foundational Neuro Coaching course equips coaches with the tools to help clients reshape their subconscious filters and accelerate their progress.
This knowledge allows practitioners to guide clients more effectively by using scientifically backed strategies to set intentions and maintain focus.
Focus and intention are not just motivational buzzwords—they’re rooted in neuroscience. Your reticular activating system acts like a personal Room of Requirement, opening doors to what you seek when you focus clearly.
Neuro coaching empowers you to master this inner magic, turning goals into reality by training the mind’s filter to work in your favour.
By learning how to work with your RAS, you gain a powerful tool to support your goals and the goals of those you coach. As you refine your focus and align your beliefs with intention, your brain begins to open doors you didn’t know existed. It’s not just about positive thinking—it’s about using neuroscience to create real, lasting change.
Explore how to unlock this power with Lusa Social Entrepreneurship Institute. Visit our home page to learn more, or jump straight into the Level 1 Foundational Neuro Coaching course for coaching practitioners.
