Toothpaste, TP, and Taupe

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” – Buddha

 There is a part of our brain called the reticular activator that stays on alert.  It's job is to help us notice some things and ignore others (because if we noticed everything, we'd not be too distracted to function).  When you shop for a new cell phone, you begin to notice others' phones and options, as your brain focuses and hones in on this detail--that is the reticular activator at work.  It is the part of the brain where motivation, goals, and even the body being awake or asleep is controlled.  It becomes a powerful force for good in our lives, as once we focus on a clear goal and are strongly motivated, it can go to work for us to help it come to fruition.

Here are some examples of the reticular activator working:  We are in the middle of building a home, and it seems no matter where we go, my mind notices home details, like the color of people's soffit and fascia, roof colors, rock selections, and if they have gridded windows or not!  It is the same if you want to paint a room taupe, suddenly your mind starts seeing taupe everywhere and you decide which shade is best for you.  When you are about to have a baby, you begin to notice and scrutinize the names of all those you come in contact with, and collaborate with others on what names you like.

Scientifically, this is all due to our reticular activator in our brain.  The overall principle is, what we focus on, good or bad, GROWS.  Meaning, whatever we hone in on, whether it be details of a home, paint colors, names for our children, or even just generally seeing things in a positive or negative light, our awareness of those things increases. 

Even more profoundly for me is this principle concerning relationships.  When I begin to notice the negative in something or someone, I tend to only find more.  And not because there truly is more negative in that person or situation, but most often, only because my mind subconsciously is focusing on the negative issue and therefore I become even more aware of it.  If your spouse leaves the toothpaste out with the lid off and it bugs you, you start noticing just how often this occurs!  If your child puts the toilet paper on "wrong" (is there really such a thing?!), our mind focuses on this each time we use the TP.

As silly as this seems, truly we see in our lives what we are concentrating on, whether consciously or subconsciously.  Our job is to help our mind hone in on what we want to "grow" and have more of in our lives.  Look for bad, we'll find it!  Look for good, we'll also find it.  It has never hurt me to have a little divine help on seeing good, especially when concerning others.  If I pray to help me see a person as God sees them, or a circumstance as He does, I'm only enlightened.  I come away with more humility, more compassion, and more love for that person.  Thomas Monson teaches: 

"We must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present but as they may become…."

Here's to not concentrating on the TP and toothpaste, but choosing to see what is worth finding more of in our lives!  See others, ourselves, our lives, as they may become, when we choose to focus on seeing good.