A Blue Honda

The RAS, aka Reticular Activating System, is the part of our brain that brings relevant information to our attention.  In her amazing book, Write It Down, Make It Happen, Henriette Anne Klauser explains how the RAS works using the example of a blue Honda.  She describes the phenomena in which you buy a blue Honda and shortly after doing so see blue Hondas on seemingly every corner.  This is the RAS at work.  There are no more blue Hondas on the streets than there were before. Because you are more aware of blue Hondas now that you have your own, the RAS acts as a filter and determines that blue Hondas are important to you and therefore brings them to your attention now instead of relegating them to the background as it did before you owned your own blue Honda.   Emotion being attached to something makes the RAS that much more determined to help you notice those things in your environment.

This is GREAT news for us when setting goals for ourselves because we can train the RAS to look for the things we want to attain.  We can train it by making a list of the things we want in life or by making our own vision board; something as simple as a piece of paper on which we place pictures of things we want to have or to do.   This gives our brain the message via the RAS to be alert for these things and for people, places and circumstances that can help us to get these things or have these experiences.

This worked for me just this week!  I am a fan of psychic John Edward and was fortunate enough to see him in Vegas a few years back.   I check now and then to see if he will be back in Vegas or anywhere else that is within affordable travelling distance.  Vegas isn’t too bad for me since Rapid City is a hub for Allegiant Air which has less expensive but very limited flights to Vegas.   I follow John Edward on Facebook and saw approximately a week ago that he was going to have an event in Vegas on December 7th.  I have a little box on my dresser that I put my goals, wishes and intentions in.  That night before I went to bed, I wrote on a small slip of paper, “See John Edward in Vegas”, folded it up and put it inside the box.   The following evening I checked the Allegiant Air site and found that there was a flight on the 6th and on the 8th, so I would only need to stay for two nights.  The flight on the 6th was an evening flight, so I wouldn’t even have to miss any work.  Hmmmm, I started to think this just might work out.

Now I just needed to find someone to go with me.  My sweetheart couldn’t commit to the date, but I really wanted to grab this opportunity.  I sent a plea to my Facebook family and friends asking for a volunteer to go with me.    The next morning, I made up my mind that even though I didn’t have a confirmed travel mate, this was something I really wanted to do and, by golly, I was going to do it!   I purchased two tickets to the event.  I did this the morning of the 13th of August.   Shortly after purchasing the two tickets, I saw a Facebook message on my phone from my Aunt Nora saying that she’d love to go but would have to do some checking.   Since the person I would probably most want to hear from would be my maternal Grandma, my heart leapt in excitement thinking I couldn’t find a more perfect companion for the trip.  I replied to the message that it would be awesome if she could come along.  A little while after that, I got a call from my Mom, who was also interested in going.  Double bonus!  With two of her three children there PLUS a granddaughter, my grandma would have extra incentive to come through!  I talked with Mom and she committed to going and got in touch with Nora who also committed to going!  I had to buy one more event ticket now.  My Mom and Dad travel to Vegas twice a year and Mom had a free hotel stay coming from the formerly Fitzgerald’s Casino in Old Vegas.  I’ve never been to Old Vegas, so I’m excited to have the chance to see it!   So, TWO companions instead of one AND free lodging!  But wait……it gets even better!  After seeing a message that I posted on Facebook later that evening about how excited I am for this trip, my sister Susan decided that this would be a great quick getaway and is going to make the trip as well!  Picturing Positive Possibilities really works!! 🙂

One of my favorite sayings is “Ask, Believe, Receive”.  I Asked (getting the RAS revved up and running with my request), Believed (purchased the tickets, having faith that I’d find someone to go with me) and Received (by getting THREE companions instead of the one that I asked for!).   It works!

For more great stories about how to make your dreams realities, I recommend reading Klauser’s book, “Write It Down, Make It Happen”.  Great stories and practical ways to take steps that lead to accomplishing your goals!  Excellent reading (and re-reading…..I refer to it often!)