Why being aware of the Reticular Activation System (RAS) matters
We have a filter we look at the world through. It is there to keep us safe, so obviously that means it scopes for threats. The bombardment of news we are exposed to on a regular basis is usually focused on things are bad and going to get worse. Understandably then if we have a filter to scope for threats we will lock into that. A challenge can be is that if we only lock into threats, we can also miss what is happening that is positive. Doom scrolling feeds into our need to scope for threats but if we are not careful, we can start to feel overwhelmed. This link offers more ideas on how to manage the challenges of doom scrolling https://www.copescotland.com/resources/tips-to-avoid-doom-scrolling
Have you ever found a situation where maybe you buy a new car, item of clothing, something for the house which is really unique and you have never seen anything like it, then, over the next few days you see more than one of them? This is because our filter is now locking into the thing which previously we had no interest in. Or it maybe you are going to the dentist after a while, and it seems everyone is talking about dentists or teeth. They are not doing this any more than usual it is just that the dentist or teeth are on your mind, so your filter is making you more aware of this.
The reticular activating system is helpful, however, we need to be mindful of what we are asking it to lock into, as we may find it locks into everything that is wrong and ends up missing many things which are right.
This link takes you to a video which explains a little more about the RAS as well as a reflective workbook which can help you to explore reprogramming your RAS to scope for things that are not only going badly but are also going well. https://www.copescotland.com/resources/introduction-to-the-reticular-activating-system
We do live in strange and uncertain times, however, there is still beauty in the world, and kindness, sometimes we need to look a bit harder to find it and filter out all the noise, which is not serving our wellbeing, but goodness is still there.
As ever this is a general wellbeing tip and not a replacement for professional advice. Sometimes things happen in our lives where we do need support and its okay to seek that out. Other times it may be helpful for us to look at some of our assumptions that are not serving us well and explore alternatives which lead to us being kinder to ourselves, each other, and the planet.