Red Trucks, Brain Filters, and the Reticular Activating System
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.”
—Anaïs Nin
Ever notice the second you buy a red truck—or want to—you see them everywhere? That’s not a coincidence. It’s your brain’s Reticular Activating System (RAS).
The RAS is a network of neurons in your brainstem that acts like a bouncer at the club of your consciousness. It filters the overwhelming flood of information around you and decides what gets through to your awareness.
How does it decide? By what you focus on.
The RAS is always scanning, always filtering, always highlighting patterns it believes are important based on repetition, attention, and emotion.
So when you focus on red trucks—or things that stress you out, or things that make you smile—your RAS tunes your perception to notice more of those things.
It’s neuroscience, but it feels like magic when you use it intentionally.
I once worked with a leadership team at a Fortune 500 company. Smart people, great resumes, but the vibe in the room was heavy. They saw only problems.
Turns out, they started every meeting with: “What’s not working?” That sounds responsible. But over time, their brains got trained to only notice what was broken. It drained their energy, creativity, and momentum.
I gave them a 30-day challenge: Start every meeting with one thing that IS working—progress, connection, creativity.
At first, it felt forced. But then something shifted.
They didn’t ignore problems—they just added wins to the conversation. Their brains had permission to see more. So they did. That’s the power of the Reticular Activating System
What you repeatedly give attention to, your brain prioritizes. Looking for good doesn’t mean ignoring the bad. It means retraining your mind to also see what’s helping you grow, move forward, or feel connected. You can’t lean into what you never even noticed. But you can train your brain to notice more of what’s good.
Journal Prompt: What’s something you’ve started noticing more lately? Why do you think that is? How has that shift affected the way you feel?
Want to bring a dose of positivity (and laughter) to your next event?
