THE LEVEL UP LETTER

Hi All! Here is your weekly Level Up Letter. This week we're exploring something that profoundly impacts every leader: the Reticular Activating System (RAS). It's that fascinating part of your brain that determines what you notice and what you miss. But here's the catch - it works both ways, creating either virtuous cycles of opportunity or vicious cycles of limitation. Understanding this mental filter can transform your decision-making, leadership, and even your self-perception. Let's dive in!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

THE INVISIBLE FILTER

⁣Your brain is bombarded with roughly 11 million bits of information every second, but can only consciously process about 50 bits. That means you're filtering out 99.999% of reality at any given moment. The filter? Your Reticular Activating System.

Ever buy a new car and suddenly see that exact model everywhere? That's your RAS at work. It’s honed in on the thing you decided was important.

It can also cause holes in your perception. The Show Brain Games ran an experiment where they swapped out a person at a front desk, and only a handful of people noticed. Their RAS was filtering out the routine.

THE DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD

Your RAS doesn't judge whether what you're focusing on is helpful or harmful - it simply directs your attention based on your programming:

The Positive Edge: When you repeatedly focus on strengths, opportunities, and possibilities, your RAS becomes a powerful ally. You begin noticing resources, connections, and solutions that were always there but previously invisible to you.

The Negative Edge: When your internal dialogue revolves around limitations ("I'm not creative," "My team isn't motivated," "This market is impossible"), your RAS dutifully brings you evidence confirming these beliefs. A leader who believes their team lacks initiative will notice every missed deadline while overlooking instances of proactive problem-solving.

The most damaging RAS programming often happens when we tell ourselves stories like:

• "I'm not a natural leader"

• "I always mess up important presentations"

• "I can't compete with bigger companies"

• "Nobody values what I bring to the table"

Each of these statements creates a filtering system that selectively gathers evidence to prove itself right.

REPROGRAMMING YOUR RAS

The good news? You can deliberately reprogram this powerful system:

1. Mind your language - Notice when you use absolutes like "always," "never," or "everyone." These program your RAS to filter out exceptions.

2. Ask better questions - Instead of "What's wrong with my team?" try "Where is my team showing potential?" The question itself directs your filtering system.

3. Create intentional exposure - If you're convinced you can't handle public speaking, deliberately expose yourself to examples of people who overcame this fear. Your RAS will begin to notice pathways rather than obstacles.

4. Capture evidence - Keep a success journal where you document contradictions to your limiting beliefs. This manually overrides your RAS's tendency to filter these out.

THE ONE-WEEK EXPERIMENT

Try this simple experiment: Imagine there's a spotlight that only illuminates evidence of growth - in yourself, your team, or your business. Three times a day, when your phone reminder goes off, turn on this spotlight and write down the first example of growth you see.

It could be as small as someone learning from a mistake or as big as a new market opportunity. By the end of the week, you'll have 21 examples of growth that your brain would typically filter out.

NEED HELP REPROGRAMMING YOUR FILTERS?

Working with a qualified coach can accelerate breaking through limiting RAS filters that may be holding you back. If you've been hitting the same ceiling in your business or leadership, it might be time for an outside perspective.

Book a 30-minute RAS Reset Call - In this complimentary session, we'll help you identify one significant RAS filter that might be limiting your potential and provide a custom framework for reprogramming it.

Would love to hear from you - what's one limiting filter you suspect might be operating in your leadership, and what could change if you reprogrammed it?

Forward this to someone who might benefit from understanding the power of their mental filters.