The Power of RAS…It’s All in Your Mind (Literally)
Mar 01, 2010
Every one of us has a Reticular Activating System (RAS) in our brain. RAS is an area of the brain that helps us transition from “relaxed wakefulness” to “high attention.” Because RAS puts things on our awareness radar, it plays a vital part in our ability to achieve goals. Get it? Making your million dollars. Plant it in your head NOW…deep in your RAS.
RAS acts like a filter to bring relevant information to our attention. If you understand how RAS works (which you should after reading this), you can use it to your advantage. Yes, that’s right: you can make your first million dollars just by knowing and understanding the RAS portion of your brain.
You can program your RAS by specifically choosing what messages to send it. So if you set a goal for yourself and keep that goal at the front of your mind, you will start taking steps to achieve it. On the other hand, if you tell yourself that you’ll never be able to accomplish a certain goal, RAS will work against you, and you will never be able to accomplish that goal – sort of like a self-fulfilling prophecy.
None of us want to go through life just getting by, DO WE? YOU CAN CHANGE IT RIGHT NOW! Reprogram your brain!! RAS allows us to accomplish whatever we set out to accomplish – the sky is the limit. Instead of focusing on what IS, focus on what COULD BE. Perfect example: when I decided to start my own ad agency, everyone said I couldn’t build a $100 million agency in Florida. But I said that I could – I told myself that I could, over and over and over again. And now Zimmerman does more than $2.5 BILLION in billings each year…a little more than the $100 million everyone told me I could never reach.
Jordanism: Turn your ‘shoulds’ into ‘musts.’
If you want something, you can have it if you want it bad enough. But if you get consumed with self-doubt, worry and fear, you’ll never reach your goals. People don’t like to put themselves at risk out of fear of rejection, fear of failure. But accomplishments in life are all about taking risks. After all, what’s the worst thing that can happen? All you can do is fail. And who gives a shit if you fail?! You learn from your failures.
Think RAS – think millionaire. Look at Jim Carrey. Jim Carrey wrote himself a check for $10 million. That’s right: $10 million. And he told himself every single day that he would get paid $10 million one day to do a movie. He put that check in his wallet, and he carried it with him everyday. He planted that in his RAS. Today, Jim Carrey is a household name. And yes, he did one day get his $10 million. And today he commands more than $25 million per film. RAS works.
I’ve let you in on a secret today. Now…what are you waiting for? Activate your RAS. Feed it with energy, ambition and passion. Tell your RAS what your heart desires. And then go for it.
Something I discovered with (RAS) that I have recently used was inspired by “Happy For No Reason” Marci Shimoff said activate your RAS & look for things to be happy about. From being thankful for the new day, giving awards to fruits such as the “best fruit in the world.” I totally enjoyed that. I also liked your advice about activating RAS when making my first million. Thanks for this wonderful advice “the sky is the limit. Instead of focusing on what IS, focus on what COULD BE.”
I appreciate it and I can’t wait to read your other posts…
Thanks for providing great value here.
Love Light & Blessings,
Therese Miu
Hi, Mr JZ. I don’t know if you read these comments but I have a very important question to ask you. I am a 24 year old college student and I truthfully don’t know what I want to do with my life, I have changed majors about five times and I am seriously thinking about dropping out. I am a hard worker, I’ve been working since the age of 14, right now I work for airport security and I know thats not the place for me. Growing up in a strict household I never got a chance to play sports or join clubs to gear me in a certain direction. How did you know exactly what you wanted to do and do you have a college degree? I like the fashion and entertainment world but I don’t know exactly what I would do in those fields, please help me I feel like I’m running out of time, I don’t want to be 30 and careerless.
Thanks for sharing the tip of RAS. I’ve always been a big believer in it and the amazing powers of our brain to focus on a goal until it is achieved. I truly enjoy reading your blog, keep sharing the wisdom!
wow,i have been reading a book The Secret by Rhonda Bryne,oh my goodness RAS works. 3weeks back after reading the book ,i wrote myself a check of 1Million Rands(im a South African)and put it in my bedroom wall and it is the 1st thing i see every morning and since then i have been attracting a lot of advise (on how to make my 1st million)including your blogs. i have always been a driven person,with a vision and i believe in myself. so i am in process of opening my own IT consulting and training business and i am currently working as and IT Engineer and busy studying courses like project management,service management and business management. YES I CAN.
My RAS is hungry and it’s time to feed it.!! Good read… enjoyed. Felisa