You Don’t Have to Believe Everything You Think
Ever notice how a great idea pops up—and then bam! your mind rushes in?
“Too risky.”
“What if you fail?”
“Remember last time?”
It’s not that your brain’s trying to be mean. It’s actually trying to protect you. That left-brain security guard (the RAS or reticular activating system) is wired to notice danger, record traumas and negative experiences and keep you from going through it again.
The problem is when it doesn’t know when to stop. As a person who grew up in a dysfunctional family dynamic, I developed a hypervigilant way of protecting myself, which kept me in fight or flight for most of my life.
False Alarms Everywhere
That same system will sometimes treat a new opportunity like a threat—just because something in your past felt scary or uncomfortable. So your mind flashes a giant “Caution!” sign even when there’s no real danger.
It’s like having a smoke alarm that goes off every time you make toast. Gotta love it!
What You Focus On Grows
Here’s the other thing about the RAS—it amplifies whatever you’re already looking for.
If you’re tuned into worry, negativity, or “worst case scenario” thinking, you’ll notice more of it. (Like watching Jaws and suddenly every shadow in the ocean is a shark.)
But if you lean into gratitude, optimism, and possibility? You can train your RAS to help you spot more of that instead. And wouldn’t that feel so much better?
Rewiring with Sound and Voice
When you hum, tone, chant, or even let out a sigh, you’re doing more than just making noise. You’re sending vibrations through your nervous system that reset your body and calm that hyper-vigilant brain.
Sound bypasses the chatter of the left mind and drops you into the body. Voice connects breath and vibration through the vagus nerve—helping you release tension, soften old patterns, and literally rewire the way your system responds.
Instead of spinning in fear or “what ifs,” sound gives you a fast track back to presence, calm, and possibility.
Here’s the thing: thoughts aren’t facts. They’re just stories your brain repeats to keep you safe. With sound and voice, you don’t have to argue with them—you can shift your whole state.
So next time your mind tries to stomp on a dream, try humming for a minute, sighing out a gentle “ahhh,” or toning a sound that feels good in your body. Let your nervous system re-learn safety.
Because you don’t have to believe everything you think.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Reticular Activating System (RAS)?
The RAS is like your brain’s internal “security guard.” It filters the flood of information coming in and decides what’s important based on what you already focus on—whether that’s potential danger or opportunity.
2. Why does my mind feel like it’s sabotaging me?
It’s not sabotage—it’s protection mode on overdrive. If you’ve had stressful or painful experiences in the past, your RAS stores those patterns. So when something new feels uncertain, it can trigger a “false alarm,” even when you’re perfectly safe.
3. How does sound help calm the nervous system?
Sound bypasses the chatter of the thinking brain and speaks directly to the body. Humming, toning, chanting, or sighing send vibrations through the vagus nerve, which helps regulate your stress response and bring your body back into balance.
4. Can my thoughts really change what I notice?
Absolutely. Your RAS acts like a filter. If you’re focused on fear or failure, it’ll highlight more of that. If you intentionally lean into gratitude and possibility, your RAS begins spotting more of the good—and over time, your whole nervous system shifts.
5. What’s one simple thing I can do right now to calm my overactive mind?
Try humming gently for a minute or sighing out a soft “ahhh.” These simple sound practices activate your vagus nerve and help rewire your body’s stress response, creating a sense of calm and grounding.
6. How do I know if I’m stuck in “fight or flight” mode?
Common signs include tightness in the chest, shallow breathing, racing thoughts, or feeling like you always have to be “on alert.” If these feel familiar, simple sound and voice practices can help your system shift back into safety and ease.
Explore Calm in 10 - 3 - 10 minute tracks to help you come home to yourself →
Explore my upcoming sound baths →
