Have you ever wondered why time seems to accelerate once you enter your working years? The daily cycle becomes a blur: wake up, work, return home, sleep. Before you know it, you're asking yourself, “How did I age so quickly? Where did all those years go?“
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The Challenge of Repetition
The culprit behind this phenomenon is our brain's response to repetition. Our minds employ a fascinating mechanism called deletion – a cognitive filter that automatically screens out recurring experiences. Much like a camera that stops registering a static background, our memory system tends to skip over repetitive events, considering them too mundane to store.
A Solution Through Mindfulness
While developing mindfulness – a heightened awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and actions – is the ultimate solution, you can begin with a simpler practice: the 3 Magic Bedtime Questions.
Each night before sleep, ask yourself about these Bedtime Questions:
- What is one thing I am grateful for today?
- What do I look forward to tomorrow?
- What would I like to dream about tonight?
The Magic Behind the Bedtime Questions
These seemingly simple questions hold profound power. The first question prompts you to review your entire day while searching for something to be grateful for. In doing so, you engage in what Neuro-Linguistic Programming calls “capping experience” – imagine placing your daily experience in a bottle, sealing it, and giving it a unique label. Instead of having your memories blur into one vast expanse labeled “My Working Years — 20 to 50 years old,” you create distinct, meaningful memories.
The second question activates anticipation and motivation. By identifying something to look forward to, you create natural excitement for the day ahead. This anticipation becomes your first conscious thought upon waking, providing immediate purpose and direction.
The third question taps into your deepest desires. Our dream choices naturally reflect our wants and wishes, helping clarify our life's direction and purpose.
The Impact
By practicing these three questions nightly, you'll notice time beginning to slow down. Your life becomes richer with memories, and you gain greater clarity about what truly matters before time runs out.
Further Development
For those interested in developing a deeper practice of mindfulness, consider reading Bhante Henepola Gunaratana's “Mindfulness In Plain English.” This accessible guide introduces Vipassana Meditation as a path to mindfulness, offering clear, practical instruction for spiritual growth.
