Most mornings I mentally rehearse my day by naming and claiming how I want to feel. Recently, the following phrase has been on my heart: Life is good!
Underneath this sentiment, or intention, is a desire to feel in awe of the magic around me; to become aware of all the ways that elements of my dream life already exist in the present moment.
It's one of the ways I cultivate an abundance mindset. 🧠
When we take the time acknowledge and label our desires and feelings, we are telling our brain to pay extra special attention to the moments, actions, people, and places that reinforce them. It's like adding a filter to our brain to actually see things differently. It turns out there's some pretty cool neuroscience behind this filter that has the power to change our mindset and beliefs.
#Filter
I'd like to introduce you to a powerful part of your brain called the Reticular Activating System (you can call it RAS for short 😉).
Your Reticular Activating System is a network of neurons in the brainstem responsible for (among other amazing things) how we ultimately perceive the world (!!!!)
Our brain can process an astounding amount of data at any given moment (to the tune of 11 billion bits of information per second!), but our conscious mind can only handle about 40 to 50 bits of information per second (still a lot!). Your RAS plays an integral part in sifting and sorting all of that information, deeming it as either 'unnecessary' or 'important' based on what you focus on.
The RAS is behind the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, a cognitive bias where something you've noticed or recently learned suddenly seems to appear everywhere. For example, you keep hearing that new song you like; or you keep seeing that new car you've been eyeing. Suddenly these things seem to start appearing more frequently, but in reality our awareness of it has increased.
What you focus on grows 🌱
The Baader-Meinhof phenomenon involves two cognitive processes: selective attention and confirmation bias.
Selective attention: When you learn something new, find something interesting, or even intentionally focus on how you want to feel, your brain deems it as important. This triggers your brain to subconsciously look for more of that thing. Your RAS essentially takes this new focus and creates a filter for it because it is now important to YOU. It's actively working in the background of your mind to show more of it to you, without you having to do much of anything. So cool right?
Confirmation bias: In much the same way, your RAS seeks information to validate, or confirm, your beliefs. The more evidence you have of a held belief, the more you are going to believe it's true.
What we focus on grows. If we want to change a belief we have about ourselves or want to feel a certain way (more love, more magic, more possibility), we have the power to do that! As soon as we tell our brain that something is important to us, it's going to work on our behalf to show us more of it. 😍
“Life is good!” in action
So what happened when I set an intention to feel in awe of the magic around me and to notice all the ways that elements of my dream life already exist?
Well, for one, I randomly (but maybe not so randomly 😉) came across two separate IG reels from people I admire talking about how to be present and notice how life is good (!)
I took a moment to pause and repeat to myself "life is good" when I saw I had enough stars to get a free drink at Starbucks.
I thought “life is good” while enjoying the best Italian chopped salad, bucatini, and fig & prosciutto pizza at happy hour the other night with my BFF.
From little things like making myself a morning matcha latte, baking blueberry cupcakes for my nephew's birthday, and playing princess legos with my niece to big things like having time freedom and the space to dream, I started clocking it all.
And you know what? I felt light. Satisfied. Gratitude. For me, in this moment, life is good.
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️ What do you want to feel more of? Name it and claim it right now. And if you're feeling extra bold, hit 'REPLY' and share it with me!
Then, for the next 3 days write down every single moment, action, person, or place that aligns with how you want to feel.