Why Your Brain Keeps Ignoring Your Goals (And How to Fix It)

Your brain is wired to filter out the noise. But without direction, it might filter out your dreams, too. Here’s how to train it to focus on what matters most.

Alex Bancu
January 18, 2025

Do you know that feeling when you set a goal, and then life happens, and suddenly, it’s like the goal never existed?

I’ve been there too.

But here’s the thing.

It’s not you. It’s your brain. Specifically, your Reticular Activating System (RAS).

Your RAS is like a filter for your brain.

Think of it as the glasses you wear to see the world.

Right now, those glasses scan your environment and decide what’s important enough for you to notice.

Without direction, your RAS might focus on:

And that’s how goals get buried.

Here’s an Example:

Do you ever buy something new, like shoes, and suddenly notice them everywhere?

That’s your RAS in action. It highlights what’s relevant to you.

But here’s the catch:

Your RAS doesn’t automatically know your goals are important. You have to tell it.

Otherwise, your brain will prioritise the noise around you instead of focusing on what matters.

The good news? You can prime your RAS to focus on your goals.

When you write your goals down, it’s like giving your brain a memo: “Hey, this is what we’re looking for now.”

Here’s how I do it:

Yearly, Quarterly, and Weekly Goals:

I use Notion to map out the big picture.

Breaking it down like this makes it less overwhelming and more actionable.

Daily Goals:

Every morning, I grab my notebook and write down 3 to 5 achievable goals. Then, I spend a few minutes thinking about how to approach them.

This daily writing isn’t just a to-do list. It’s a way to train my RAS to put my goals in the front of my mind.

The real trick is discipline. Even when life gets busy, repeating this process daily keeps your mind laser-focused on what matters.

Like glasses, your RAS needs regular adjustments to help you see what matters most.

Writing your goals daily keeps your focus sharp.

Since starting this system, I’ve noticed:

I make better decisions.
I spot opportunities I might have missed before.
My brain feels like it’s working in the background, quietly scanning for things that help me move forward.

It’s not magic. It’s science. But it feels like magic sometimes.

What’s your favourite way of staying focused on getting what matters most to you done?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

If you enjoyed this, make sure to:

• Subscribe to stay updated with more insights like this.

• Connect with me on LinkedIn, X, or Instagram.

I’d love to chat with you there, too.

Talk soon,

Alex