Science behind setting an intention
Sara Phillipps
A freelance web designer & developer based in Melbourne, Australia.
Manifesting isn’t just about imagining what we want...or is it?
When I was first told to use the “power of manifestation” the sceptic in me was apprehensive yet curious. This is usually my response to anything unknown - apprehension because the logical brain kicks in, and curiosity because somewhere deep down I want to believe in everything. And it is this dichotomous view of the world that keeps sending me on these small research quests to find the ‘why’s’ and ‘how’s’ of these world known “secrets” (pun intended, for those who have read the book!)
One of my first encounters with yoga asana practice introduced me to the idea of setting an intention at the start of each practice. I later learnt about yoga nidra and the concept of positive resolve or ‘Sankalpa’. I always wondered how one could manifest these intentions or resolve by simply repeating it in their mind.
“I’m sure there must be some Psychological or neuro-physiological explanation for this?”
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This is when I came across, Reticular Activating system.
Reticular means web-like (and no I don’t mean world wide web!). It is a net-like formation of nerve cells between the brain & the spinal cord. Sometimes it is also known as the ascending arousal system.
This system is such an interesting mechanism of our brain & consciousness that I truly believe it can be one of the keys to living a more fulfilling life!
Its structure:
Reticular activating system or RAS is basically a bundle of neurons located inside the Reticular formation, which is nothing but the brainstem. Think of it as a pencil like structure - about 2 inches, right where our brain meets the spine. It continues upward through the thalamus in the center of the brain and further on to the cerebral cortex. This magnificent system isn't just limited to this small pencil-like structure. Other components of it are situated deep within the brain - midbrain reticular formation, mesencephalic nucleus, thalamic intralaminar nucleus, dorsal hypothalamus, and tegmentum - to name a few.
Its function:
This is the most primitive part of our brain. The Reticular Formation or brainstem is responsible for cardiovascular function, pain perception, sleep cycle, consciousness, and habituation, which is directly linked to the Reticular Activating System.
When we need to use any of our senses (except the sense of smell, which is directly related to the centre of emotions), the RAS kicks in. However it is not involved in interpreting the quality or type of sensory input. Rather, it activates the entire cerebral cortex with energy, waking it up, increasing its level of arousal and readiness for interpreting incoming information and preparing the brain for appropriate action. It releases chemicals that regulate motor function as well as emotions, wakefulness & memories.
So what does this mean in terms of our day to day activity?
Headline 1
To sum it up, think of our RAS as a computer processor that collects all the information from our day to day life and during sleep (unconscious state) helps the brain gear up for a higher level of activity so that you can arise in the morning. It is the brain's attention centre in which external stimulus is systematically organised into conscious thought.
So how does this affect our yoga practice & intention setting at the start of an asana practice or yoga nidra?
To understand this, we must know 2 important things
Our brain likes to optimise the information being thrown its way & would choose the shortest way to achieve what it needs
The sleeping brain really affects the way we perceive the world
Have you ever been in a room where there are a lot of people talking and suddenly you hear your name, and your attention is instantly drawn to it? Why does this happen?
It’s because our brain has become used to responding to our name, and so when we hear it, it manages to filter out all the other noise, only to hear what is important. This is because since you were a kid, you have been conditioned to respond to your name, so it’s this repeated loop of behaviour that has made it easier for your brain to filter out your name through the noise.
It is the RAS, that keeps you from being overwhelmed by the barrage of information being provided to your brain each second. It allows us to “choose” which information is relevant for us even without us realising. So for example, when we decide to buy a certain car, we will see it everywhere on the road, or if we continuously think about repeated numbers, we will see it everywhere. And if you are a pet parent like me, if you are used to feeding a cat, then each time a cat meows you can hear it!
This is because this particular information has become evident to our RAS, and it makes sure that when exposed to this particular stimuli, we pay attention.
This also means that when we repeatedly set an intention or 'Sankalpa', we are constantly programming our RAS to keep this particular intention in its radar.
Here we must also understand that the RAS and its link with sleep & wakefulness and the reason why the way we word our intention matters.
Headline 2
During wakefulness, the brain will produce low-voltage, fast-firing brain waves so that signals can be organised rapidly, contributing to alertness and attentiveness. The same occurs during the REM cycle of sleep which is when we dream. During the sleep-wake transitions, what we call the hypnagogic state (and what we try to achieve during yoga nidra), the neurons will fire at a much slower rate, making organising thoughts less coherent. This allows the high-voltage, slow firing brain waves to kick in, that facilitates non-REM sleep or dreamless deep sleep. This means that with the mind in - what psychologists would call - a subconscious state of mind, the RAS kicks in even without deliberate attempt to filter out information & it gets easier to use the conscious mind to direct the programming of RAS. It ceases to be just a data programming method while we sleep. And it is in this subconscious state, where most of our problem solving also happens.
Ever happened to you, where you can’t seem to think of a word and feel like it’s at the tip of your tongue, and then days later it just comes to you, like an aha-moment? Well, that’s our subconscious mind, constantly working to find that answer to a question you might have even forgotten you asked! And it is the RAS that filters through all the data in your brain to arrive at that.
So when we use language like “why can’t I do this” the RAS kicks in to find the solution to this question. However it is still driven by our intent to find the answer to exactly THAT question. Whereas if we asked ourselves “how do I get better at this” , the RAS would start to seek a whole new set of data! So you see the language we use to set our intention matters, and to do it during breath awareness practice, meditation or yoga nidra further helps us to push it into the radar of our RAS due to the slow firing brain wave activity.
And this is why setting an intention - to direct the attention of our brain in a certain way and to set it with the right words, is so important.
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So the next time you start your yoga practice, or simply before going to bed - set yourself up for something and think deep & hard about how you want to ask yourself to do that task - because kindness in our words to ourselves is as important, if not more, than kindness towards others.
And what you think, your RAS shall deliver!