From the experimental instructions given to the subjects:
...Delaney (1996, pp. 31-32) either "15 minutes before going to sleep" (NI) or "15 minutes after waking up" (DI):Write down a one-line question, phrase, or request that expresses something you think is important for you to know or do in order to help you solve your personal problem. It is not a wish that something would happen to another person or to circumstances beyond your control that are part of your focus problem. Examples are: "Help me understand my friend _____," "What is really going on between _____ and me?," "Give me an idea for my physics project," "How can I get motivated to do _____?," and "How can I improve my study habits?" You might think of several phrases before you find one that seems most direct and appropriate. Be as specific as you can to your focus problem. You may or may not decide to use the same phrase as you used on a previous night but, if you are using the same phrase, still write it down on this sheet.Participants were then instructed to write down their question, phrase or request in the research booklet, and the instructions continued:Repeat this phrase to yourself quietly over and over again for five to ten minutes at the same steady rate. If you start thinking about something else as you are saying this phrase, as soon as you notice that your mind has wandered merely start repeating the phrase again. While you are repeating the phrase, bring your attention to focus on it. Make an effort to really pay attention to your phrase as you are repeating it. Keep repeating this phrase for no less than five minutes and no longer than ten minutes, then stop....
6 comments:
I love doing this! I think I figured out how to do it when I was 9 or 10, mostly as a way to avoid returning to bad dreams. And so I realized I could do it as I fell asleep at bedtime.
I don't know if I ever intentially asked questions, but I know I've gotten answers several times.
Nicole -- I've tried it a few times, but so far without any luck. Maybe I need to practice this a little more. I don't think I've been doing it quite the way some of the literature suggests. I don't think I form my intention strongly enough and for a long enough period before falling asleep.
I am not sure, but I think I have done this by accident. I have numerous times been working on a very specific problem of a technical nature during the day that I just could not solve. After torturing myself, I would often and finally, fall asleep thinking about it. When I awoke, somehow the solution...just presented itself.
BW -- I've had the same experience in regards to difficult programming challenges. If I'm working hard on a mental puzzle in the evening and am stuck, I find that things fall in place the next morning. Yet I never remember working on these challenges while dreaming, though. Maybe I'm not remembering those dreams, or it is a different part of my sleeping mind working on these programming puzzles.
I'm no expert...but starting with a whole question might be the hold-up. Perhaps start with a single word. I'm pretty sure you could use any word. It might be easier to use a noun. To dream about "????". Then, build on it.
Nicole -- The most recent attempt I made, I tried to dream about a beach. In the past, I've tried places, and also flying. But without any success. I wonder if maybe my intentions are too trivial. Maybe they aren't worth the bother for my subconscious.
I'll keep experimenting and see what eventually works.
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