Paul's advice for PUTTING ON and PUTTING OFF for life change

Okay, so I came across something in a podcast that I thought was fascinating since it relates so much to Christian growth.  You’ve heard me say that Paul says to put off things like anger but if I just think about putting off, I’ll never long-term change. I need to concentrate on the corresponding “put on” gentleness, etc.  Or put off lying, and put on the truth.  I need to focus on truth telling, not lying.  Well, let me introduce to you the Reticular Activating System (RAS). It’s a network of neurons located in the brainstem that acts as a filter for the vast amount of sensory information we receive. Its primary function is to alert the rest of the brain to important stimuli and to filter out the unimportant, essentially controlling our focus and attention.  The RAS processes what you focus on and what you deem important.
Here's how it relates to Paul's advice of “putting off” bad behavior and “putting on” good (godly) behavior:
When you tell your RAS to "stop lying," the primary object of your focus is still "lying." The RAS interprets this as, "Hey, 'lying' is important! Pay attention to it!". It doesn't understand "stop" as a command to delete or ignore the concept. Instead, it highlights the very thing you're trying to avoid. This is why simply saying "Don't be nervous" often makes you more nervous, or "Don't think of a pink elephant" makes you immediately think of one. Your RAS is efficiently bringing the "forbidden" thought to the forefront of your awareness because you've identified it as significant. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy, where your brain constantly alerts you to the behavior you're trying to eliminate, making it harder to break the habit. So what do I do then? 
Focus on a Desired Behavior (Positive Framing):
When you tell your RAS to "tell the truth," the primary object of your focus is "telling the truth." The RAS interprets this as, "Hey, 'telling the truth' is important! Look for opportunities to do this!" This "hacks" the RAS because it starts to actively seek out and highlight information, experiences, and opportunities related to your desired positive behavior. It becomes a kind of internal GPS. If your goal is to "be honest," your RAS will make you more aware of situations where honesty is required, or where you can practice it. It also filters out distractions that aren't relevant to "being honest." This proactive focus helps to reinforce the desired neural pathways associated with the positive behavior, making it easier and more natural over time.
Consider these examples:
Ephesians 4:22-24: "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
Paul isn't just saying "stop being corrupt." He's saying replace it with "new self, created to be like God."
Ephesians 4:25-32:
"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor..." (Don't lie, instead speak truth)
"...and if you are angry do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must no longer steal, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need." (Don't stay angry, don't steal, instead work and share)
"Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (Don't use unwholesome talk, instead build others up)
Colossians 3:5-10: " Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature... rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."
He tells them what to get rid of, and then focuses on the "new self" and being "renewed in knowledge."
It’s fascinating to me that Paul intuitively understood this principle. Simply telling people not to do something leaves a void and keeps the negative behavior in focus. By providing a positive, replacement behavior, he:
Directs Focus: Gives the "RAS" a clear, positive target. Instead of focusing on the absence of bad behavior, it focuses on the presence of good behavior.
Creates New Pathways: Encourages the formation of new habits and neural connections, actively building righteousness rather than just trying to suppress sin.
Empowers Action: It's much more empowering to strive towards something positive than to constantly struggle against something negative. It shifts the mindset from avoidance to active pursuit.
Connects to Identity: Paul's advice is always rooted in the new identity believers have in Christ. You "put on the new self" because you are a new creation. This reinforces the positive, desired behavior as an expression of who they truly are now.
In essence, Paul's "put off, put on" framework is a spiritual and psychological masterclass, perfectly aligning with how our brains (specifically the RAS) can be leveraged to cultivate godly character by intentionally focusing on and practicing righteous alternatives. Boom!