Your brain is an incredible tool equipped with all the necessary powers needed to achieve the goals you set your heart on. Understanding how to harness its power is key to your success.
Reticular Activating System
Have you ever learnt a new word, then heard it repeatedly and wondered why you have never heard it before? You can thank your Reticular Activating System (RAS) for that. The RAS is the part of your brain that organises all of the information around you, filters out unnecessary ‘noise’ and allows you to focus on what is important to you. It shows you the things you want to see and therefore influences your actions and validates your beliefs.
To harness the power of your RAS, you must teach it to focus on information that helps you achieve your goals. By setting your goals, visualising them and using daily affirmations, your subconscious thoughts will train your RAS to show you the information, people and opportunities you need to succeed.
You therefore have the power to invite success into your life; and this is how to do it…
Set your goals
Goals come in all shapes and sizes. They can be achieved quickly, or take a lifetime. Whichever form they take, my advice to you is to write them down. Until you have done this they are simply a dream… and dreams are known to float away.
When you have written your goals down, you cement them in your life and in your being – you lay the foundations for all the you will achieve.
Using the SMARTIE acronym, your goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Resourced, Time bound, Inspiring and Emotional. For example, one of my goals is “to do something charitable every week, through an act of kindness or a charitable donation, that genuinely surprises someone”.
I have always been a charitable person, but never on a regular basis. Since writing this goal down, my RAS has presented me with many opportunities to achieve it. It has opened my eyes to the number of people I can help on a weekly basis.
From a personal point of view, being charitable makes me feel good – I love seeing people’s reactions when I positively impact their day. There is an inspiring and emotional connection to this goal which keeps my RAS on track and searching for the next opportunity to be charitable. It also rubs off on those around me; my children are now more aware of these opportunities and regularly ask “can we help that person Dad?”.
Being charitable has had an impact on my business too. I have gifted more than 300 free coaching sessions to over 230 business owners since July 2019 and have therefore made a difference to their business and personal lives. Not only does this help them, it helps me as I work towards achieving another one of my goals: “to create 150 millionaires in 10 years”.
Visualise your goals
After you have written your goals down, take time each day to visualise them.
You must truly believe in your visualisation, so zoom right in and focus on every detail using your senses. What does success look like? How does it taste? What does it feel like? What does it smell like? How does it sound? If this seems a bit odd, let me explain why…
Your RAS cannot distinguish between what is real and what is imaginary. It simply hones in on whatever is important to you. Therefore, if you vividly focus on your goals each day, your RAS will actively seek out the information and opportunities you need to achieve them.
The more you repeat this activity, the more you train your RAS and take control of your destiny.
Positive affirmations
Daily affirmations encourage positivity in all that you do. Your affirmations can be personal or goal focused and should reinforce the most important areas you want your RAS to focus on.
Look in the mirror and talk positively to yourself with phrases of encouragement, determination and true grit. “I will be kind and gracious to everyone I meet today”. “I have what it takes to reach my goals”. “I will overcome all odds”.
Repeat your affirmations throughout the day – in the car, on the train, while waiting in line at the supermarket. It doesn’t matter where or when, what matters is that you believe the things you tell yourself; the words you use will shape your life.
Goal setting affirmations ensure that your mind stays focused on what you want to achieve. They will strengthen your resolve should you waver off course and help you get back on track quickly. They are key to achieving your goals.
Achieve your goals
By harnessing the power of your mind to achieve your goals you will find that opportunities will present themselves in places you never thought possible. Doors which were once locked will begin to open. Your positivity and proactive nature will become infectious and people with similar outlooks and desires in life will gravitate towards you. You will achieve your goals and subsequently help others to achieve theirs too.
Loved your article. Your definitely creating the life of Riley!!
Thank you Wendy!