Why We Don't See What We See (Reticular Activating System)
Why we don't see what we see may sound ambiguous but it is indeed true. Our ability not to see all that is in front of us at any given time is down to a rather clever system that our brains possess. The Reticular Activating System. Just to twist the melon further, remember that what we actually 'see' is merely a representation of the information our eyes take in.
Just before I get into it. Today, my learning journey was about the fourth one I had come across over the last three days, all connected and all from totally different sources. That is interesting because another ten minute video I watched told me why, after the fact.
Some of you will know this as you will probably have a keen interest on how the stuff in our head works, behind the scenes. I kind of knew this before but had forgotten all about it, no surprises there.
The Reticular Activating System.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert when it come to all things brain orientated. I have no letters after my name that would show me to have a better than average understanding of what actually goes on between our ears. So if I lapse into the occasional moment of supposition, please forgive, it will be as Pink Floyd put it, a momentary lapse of reason, added to, a lack of the more technical details.
In short, or laymans terms, as they are how I understand things best. It is the brains filter system for the information we take in on a constant basis. If we allowed every possible piece of visual or auditory information to take root, our brains would turn into a big bowl of semolina, which is by far one of my least favourite puddings ever.
So this gadget filters out the stuff it doesn't deem relevant, there is a number attached and depending on your source and exactly how you are quantifying what you're seeing, it's somewhere around seven, although figures might vary.
We have already decided what is and isn't relevant and the RAS just carries out our request. Quick example, you're thinking of replacing your battered old Ford and someone suggests having a look at an Audi. You've never owned an Audi and wouldn't recognise one if it ran over your foot. You've not noticed one on the roads whilst you've been driving. In a car 'line-up' where the guilty party is an Audi, then you'd be letting them go free. Then, all of a sudden they're all over the place. Every fourth car you notice is an Audi. As an example, the next time you are dwelling on something, try to make a mental note of how many times the subject matter crops up, where previously it hasn't
How is any of this relevant to the price of sliced bread, I hear you ask. Well, it's simple. Sort of. You're going to have to go with me on this one but it's how it works for me.
Like attracts like. Before you go off and start 'poo-pooing' the idea and saying it's to do with the law of attraction, that's not what I'm on about. Think about it. If you're subconsciously deleting things based on a negative thought process towards them, then the opposite is true as well.
OK, let's go from 45rpm down to 33 1/3rpm or even 16rpm, if that works better and you can remember what that was.
We're here, learning about affiliate marketing and all the associated 'stuff' that goes with it. SEO, keywords, traffic, marketing, social media, PPC, Ads, banners, list building, funnels and the like, it goes on and on. If you close yourself off to certain areas then it stands to reason that they will not register in your periphery.
An opportunity may well come along and you will be oblivious to it. Puff, gone before you had chance to reject it. All that glitters is not gold, yet sometimes it is. That's slightly different but still counts, ish. I actually have another post on the back burner about how we shouldn't just dismiss 'the shiny objects' out of hand. I don't mean we should embrace them with open arms but sometimes they can be useful, anyway that's for another day.
To take advantage of this rather cool deleting system we have to make sure we are open to everything we possibly can be where our business (and or life) is concerned. As soon as you do this you will be blown away by the amount of extra avenues there are to go down.
I understand that our time is finite, trying to fit everything in can be a lost cause at times, I get it. However, if we are truly focused on what we are doing and apply ourselves fully with the time we allow ourselves then it will not be a problem because the only things we will be dealing are those that are relevant to our business/life. Phew, that was hard work.
Does it all makes sense ? I hope so, it makes sense to me but that doesn't mean a great deal, most of the time.
The Best thing to do, try to see if it makes a difference, immerse yourself for forty-eight hours. Pick something and just focus on that, see where it takes you. You might be pleasantly surprised.
If you've not long woken up and are reading this, sorry.
Have a wonderful day.
Recent Comments
38
Wow Twack, now you're heading into deep territory. I had to read your blog three times in the hope that the grey matter between my ears would process each titbit of information , and not skim over those parts it might have thought of as being irrelevant.
All my brain wanted to do was drop down in rpms when I reached the section on SEO, keywords, traffic, marketing and....the rest of it..which.. I've now forgotten.
But I must say your blogs really get me thinking, and that's not easy to achieve.
So now that you have set the challenge I'll have to immerse myself totally into building a fantastic online business.
Does that 48 hrs allow for toilet breaks.. food... sleep... And what if the grandkids visit.
Now I didn't wake up reading this, but I am nearly ready to go to bed. I might start that 48hrs tomorrow. Thank you friend.
Jim
Hi Jim, you're very welcome. I'm not sure which would be worst, reading this at the end of the day or at the beginning. I'm glad you did though. I think you'll be able to multi-task your way through the next 48 without to much of an issue.
Back in my MLM days (about 2005-ish), the first - and one of the best - trainings I got from one of the Leaders was titled 'How The Mind Works', based on the 1997 book with same title by Steven Pinker.
It was all about how the Reticular Activation System relates to our subconscious mind and enables us to focus on and therefore manifest the important things.
The book should be on the reading list of anyone who is into the subject of Personal Development, which we all should be really.
Thanks for a very interesting post, Twack. I'll have to have another read of the book.
Cheers
Rich :-)
You're welcome Rich, I thank you for your time and the book reference. These are the kind 'tips' I like. I shall endeavour to find and read. My book shelves have many books that I only came across by happenstance. They always seem somehow more worthwhile.
Thank you Shirley, it has been sat waiting to be finished for a while. I enjoyed reading back through and seeing if I can remember where I was originally going with it.
As we travel along we all develop cognitive bias our mind diverges from its normal state, and then before we know it we start rationalizing thoughts and structures out of total nonsense and unrelated patterns.
In answer to that, we develop selective attention, in a way, it is a primal instinct that helps us to focus. Focus on what is in our field of vision.
Someone wise said, "it is better to look with your ears and hearts".
It is really interesting Google wants long posts the machine perception is that they must be authoritative because they are long.
People do not read long posts on devices.
But rather scan posts! we are rapidly becoming a species of scanners.
And they then tend to fill in the gaps, from their experiences or not or what they thought they read and/or comprehended.
We are selective.
The posts that get the most engagement are short and if we observe social media, it is the short and meaningless posts that rank the best and get the most exposure.
So we are very selective.
We develop cognitive preferences, some folks rail against shiny objects, a shiny object that is used for the purpose it was designed for becomes an invaluable tool or resource.
Site content would be a classic example of that, some folks view it as total rubbish and express that preference, some folks soak it up and create content like dam busters. Check their Pay Pal accounts and smile.
Thinking in terms like this, WA can become a shiny object if not used for the purpose it was designed.
Now that is something to think about, as he puts the coffee pot on the stove.
Another enjoyable read, Twack always good to get the synapses zinging.
After not long reading Marks (@mstewardit) reply, which had me thinking about 'dimensions' you have, yet again, added another dimension to my post, so thank you.
This is what makes me 'buzz' on a daily basis. What we take from everything around us can be different for each of us. Sometimes, just the way a phrase or sentence is constructed, can take us off in directions that were never on the original authors map.
Verbalising the game of 'word association' can often times seems arduous and yet our minds do it all the time and with ease. Of course, it does depend somewhat, on whether we allow them to 'run free' with the thought process.
In using all of our senses (eyes, ears, nose, touch, and throw in the heart)... it's quite amazing what we 'see'.
Well said, Twack, there are so many ways to look at things and we do indeed have different perspectives. We have such a wonderful opportunity to create beyond our abilities.
We should always endeavor to reach as far as we can, as not to miss the opportunity.
At the end of the day, we are designed to focus and cut out unnecessary noise.
Much better to interexchange ideas, it does get one thinking.
So true Shaunna, that is where we discover the spice of life.
We can be so busy at times we simply fly on by without taking it all in.
This is so true. I've learnt to focus my mind soley on one task at a time before moving onto the next. Apart from the odd check on Facebook, or glance at emails! If you try and take in too much in one go, it never works. I know exactly what you mean about cars. Before buying my first sports car, the make I decided on I'd never seen before. Then, all of a sudden they were everywhere!! Best wishes :)
Hi Kathy, very true. Having that focus can allow us to really accomplish so much more. Having it at the forefront of our minds also makes us more aware of relevant things that otherwise we might miss out on. Just on a curious note, what was the car ?
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T,
The weird reality?
I just finished reading an article on RAS, and the Adult Learner!! (Law of Attraction aside...).
Alex sums it up best, I think, on how selective we are. We have become scanners, as the article refers to the average attention span of being around 7 seconds...
Anyway back to RAS.
I have done the 48-hour 'experiment', and it can be quite "eye-opening'.
S
S
Sounds like a fascinating read. I am curious to know if the 'average' had an age differential or if it was just across the board and thus taking into account 'us' of the longer years.
I will look for the article again....