Your brain filters out opportunities you don’t expect to see. Learn how visualization actually reprograms your perception to spot what matters for your authentic goals.
The story
Ever catch yourself missing opportunities right in front of you? I just finished Chapter 6 of Attila B. Horvath’s “The Journey – I Wish I Knew This Before I Was 21” and it explains why this happens.
The problem isn’t lack of opportunity—it’s your brain’s filter system.
Horvath introduces the Reticular Activating System [RAS], which determines what information reaches your conscious mind. It only lets through what you’re already focused on.
That’s why when you’re thinking about buying a certain car, you suddenly notice that model everywhere. They were always there—your brain just wasn’t showing them to you before.
The solution? Visualization isn’t just fluffy self-help talk. It actually programs your subconscious to recognize opportunities aligned with your goals. By visualizing what you want, you’re training your RAS to spot relevant opportunities in your environment.
What really hit home was Horvath connecting this to becoming your authentic self rather than following society’s expectations. Most people never discover their true potential because they’re operating on autopilot using someone else’s programming.
The breakthrough comes when you intentionally direct your thoughts and treat failures as feedback rather than defining moments.
Wish I’d learned this brain-success connection years ago. Would have saved me from paths that weren’t truly mine.
For more about Chapter 6 of Attila B. Horvath’s book, “The Journey – I wish I knew this before I was 21”, visit https://attilahorvath.net/the-journey.
