One minute

Instructions

• The leader asks the participants to get up and stand in front of their chairs. Then these instruction are given: When I say “Ready Set Go!” everyone closes their eyes. You will then count silently until you think one minute or 60 seconds have passed. You cannot look at your watch or mobile phone. When you think that one minute has passed, you sit down. Then you can open your eyes. It’s important to be quiet during the exercise. “Ready Set Go!” 
• The participants often find this exercise amusing and wonder who “won”. The leader therefore has to pay attention and note who sat down closest to the one minute mark. Also note the first and the last to sit as these two illustrate (the often large) difference in the understanding of one minute.
• When everyone has sat down, the leader tells the group who came closest to one minute, and points out the difference in time between first and last. Finally, the leader asks whether the participants feel there is something to be learned from the exercise.

Conclusion

Even such a simple thing as thinking about how long a minute lasts will be experienced differently by different people. And so it is with most things in life. Everyone experiences the world differently. Therefore we should have understanding and respect for the fact that others may perceive things in a different way than we do.

(English translation: John Anthony)