Energy Follows Attention

Welcome back to Mind by Fire — last week we talked about how the subconscious learns: how repetition and emotion quietly teach your brain what to believe.
This week we’re taking that one step deeper — into the space where your focus either fuels your growth or feeds your exhaustion.

Your attention is fire.
Whatever you aim it at, grows.

You’ve seen it — when you fixate on a problem, suddenly everything reinforces it. When you set your mind on a goal, opportunities begin to appear.
That’s not luck or coincidence — it’s your Reticular Activating System (RAS) at work.

The RAS decides what gets through to your awareness.
And here’s the kicker — it doesn’t know right from wrong.
It only follows your focus.

One Brain-Based Insight: The Filter That Builds Your Reality

At the base of your brainstem is a small but powerful network called the Reticular Activating System — or RAS.
It acts like your mind’s internal filter, sorting billions of signals every second — what you see, hear, feel, and even imagine — and deciding which ones make it to the front of your awareness.

It’s the reason you can hear your name across a noisy room or suddenly notice the same model of car you just bought everywhere you go.
The RAS isn’t trying to surprise you — it’s simply confirming what your mind has already decided is important.

And that’s the key:
your RAS doesn’t think, reason, or judge.
It just obeys your focus.

When you fixate on a thought — especially one charged with emotion — your conscious mind signals to your RAS: “This matters. Pay attention to anything related.”

So if you spend your mornings thinking about what’s missing, your RAS tunes your awareness toward lack — filtering in every sign that confirms it.
But if you train your attention on opportunity, progress, or gratitude, your RAS starts surfacing patterns that match that signal instead.

The RAS is the bridge between your conscious mind (where focus begins) and your subconscious mind (where patterns live).
Your conscious thoughts set the direction; the RAS filters the data; and your subconscious stores whatever gets through.

So yes — when you feed your focus the wrong thing, your brain trains itself to keep noticing it.
You’re not unlucky — your filter’s just following orders.

My son reminded me of this truth in a story he once told me.

That’s your RAS at work.
The wolf you feed is the thought you repeat.
Feed fear, and your mind filters for danger.
Feed focus and faith, and your brain starts scanning for direction.

The science and the story say the same thing:
You don’t see the world as it is — you see it as your RAS has been trained to find it.

Reset Ritual: Train the Filter

You can’t control every thought — but you can train what your brain believes is worth seeing.
Each morning and night this week, give your attention direction.

1. Set the Signal.
Before the noise of the day starts — take 30 seconds to tell your mind what to look for.

Say it like you mean it:

“Show me opportunities today.”
“Show me growth.”
“Show me where I can lead.”

You’re not asking the world to change — you’re programming your filter to notice the moments that already can.

2. Face the Problem First.
Don’t rush to the fix. Focus on the problem long enough to understand it.
Awareness is what retrains your RAS — when you name the challenge clearly, your brain starts filtering for real solutions instead of chasing quick relief.
You can’t redirect what you refuse to look at.

3. Compound the Wins.
At the end of the day, name one thing that went right — then ask, “How can I build on this tomorrow?”
Your RAS learns through repetition and reward.
Every time you spot progress, you reinforce it — teaching your brain to prioritize growth over struggle.

4. Lead the Change.
Every time you choose your focus, you remind your mind that change starts with you.
No one else can program your filter — it listens to your voice first.

So give it clear orders.
Mean every word.
Feed the right wolf.

Reflection: The Fire You Feed

Every thought you entertain is a spark.
Most fade.
Some catch.

The ones you return to — those are the ones that burn.

The mind learns by repetition.
And the more attention you give to a thought — whether it’s fear, growth, resentment, or gratitude — the stronger it becomes.
That’s not weakness; that’s wiring.

When you focus on what’s wrong, your RAS keeps collecting proof of the problem.
When you focus on what’s possible, it starts surfacing solutions.
Your brain doesn’t judge — it just follows instruction.

That’s why awareness always comes first.
You can’t change what you won’t face.
You feed the right wolf not by pretending the other one isn’t there —
but by recognizing which one’s eating your energy and choosing differently.

So this week, ask yourself:

• What kind of thoughts have I been feeding lately?

• Where has my focus been collecting evidence — fear or growth?

• What would happen if I gave the same energy to what’s working as I’ve been giving to what’s wrong?

You don’t need to control every thought.
You just need to decide which ones get fed twice.

🔥 Cooking Experiment: Flat Iron Focus

Lately I’ve been experimenting with flat iron steak — smoked low and slow for about an hour, then finished with a hard sear over a cast-iron skillet set directly on the coal bed in the firebox.

The smoke builds depth. The coal sear locks it in.
You get that perfect crust with a center that stays tender and rich.

It pairs perfectly with this chimichurri recipe I shared in a previous issue — bright, herbal, and built for open flame. If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a go. The two together are unbeatable.

This flat iron also makes a great taco.
Slice it thin, add fresh cilantro and pickled onions, maybe a squeeze of lime, and you’re set.

If anyone wants a good salsa recipe to pair with the tacos, message me directly.
I’ll release one in the next Friday Fire Edition of the cooking newsletter.

🔥 Which wolf are you feeding this week?
If this issue hit home, share it or reply — I’d love to hear what focus you’re training next.

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.