Malignant Optimism, Part II

Hi, I’m Sandra. Welcome to The Happyist. Here, we get unstuck through appreciation and holistic happiness. Best part, it’s easy and kind of fun.

Let’s talk some more about what I call Malignant Optimism, and why what you’re seeing might not be signs or omens, but part of our wonderful brain. Or, at least our brainstem.

Just wondering if you’ve seen The Secret. Go ahead and raise your hand for a yes. It’s been a while for me, so I’ll paraphrase. In it, there’s a part where someone wanted something and, suddenly, they saw it everywhere! And that’s a sign that they are manifesting it. This is part of the Law of Attraction.

After seeing the film, way back in the day, a friend of mine decided she was going to manifest a Jaguar. A green one. She was going to pluck this out of thin air and bring it into her life. Didn’t matter that she lived in an apartment with street parking. Didn’t matter that, even if she got the car for free, she wouldn’t be able to afford the insurance, let alone the maintenance. She was going to get this car. Know how she knew? She suddenly started seeing Jaguars everywhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to your Reticular Activation System, or RAS.

The Reticular Activation System is a bundle of nervy neurons that sit in your brainstem and are responsible for a number of things, like your sleep/wake cycle, attention, arousal, modulation of muscle tone, and the ability to focus.

Let’s look at two of those lovely functions: Attention and the ability to focus. And this is something you can totally play with today.

The typical example is when you decide what kind of car you’re going to buy — not manifest, like my friend. But, say you’re in the market to buy a car, new or used, and you’ve narrowed it down to one model, and maybe even a specific color. And, suddenly, you see it everywhere. And I mean everywhere. It’s like a slew of them have hit the streets. Never saw one before (or maybe just one), and now you can’t leave the house without bumping into one (figuratively, of course). That must be a sign, right? This car is meant to be! Go out and get one now.

Sure. Why not? If you’ve done your research, know that it’s reliable, that it holds its value, that the insurance and maintenance are within your means. The reason you’re seeing the car you desire everywhere is not a sign from the Universe, it’s because you’ve tipped your Reticular Activation System. Your RAS is now focusing your attention on that car. All of those cars were likely always there. You just didn’t have interest in them. Now you do. So, now your RAS is on alert, focusing your attention on this new desire. Which is an affirmation of sorts. You’ve decided; your RAS is focused. All good. Just not the omen people tend to think it is.