Dreams are absolutely amazing. They can inspire, confound, and reveal. And some of them can scare the bejesus out of you. Dreams can also be a powerful problem-solving tool. While dream analysis won't solve all of your challenges, paying closer attention to your dreams can push you in the right direction for resolving at least some of them. Your dreams can give you hints about what's going on in your subconscious, your body, and even the lives of others. In fact, I once had a dream that my cat left an odd-looking trail in his litter box. Just based on that alone, I took him to the vet. I recall the doctor's surprise when reading this "symptom" on the intake form, and the even bigger surprise when it turned out that my cat had a kidney infection.
When it comes to solving problems you already know about and are actively trying to resolve, sleeping gives your mind much needed rest and allows your brain time to sort things out. What's really on your mind may end up in your dreams as a way of coping with your thoughts.
Pay Attention to Your Dreams
Get into the habit of paying attention to the contents of your dreams, including your emotions in the dream, and what they might be telling you. The language of dreams can be wild and crazy. Some things may be literal, others symbolic. If you break them down, you may find important clues hidden in your dream images. Think about the things you are reminded of or immediately associate with the content of your dreams.
If you have trouble remembering your dreams, keep a pen and paper next to your bed. If you remember something immediately upon waking, quickly jot down your thoughts before they're lost. This technique also enables you to more fully capture the details of your dreams.
Common Dreams
Although the varieties of dreams are endless, many of us experience similar dream situations. Dream content and your specific dream language may be very personal but, if you're just getting started, working with common dream themes may help in your dream analysis.
Here are some common dreams:
- Running away from a monster. In your dream, you run away from some kind of monster. It's scary, but that monster could be representing a problem or hurdle that you need to overcome. Perhaps your mind is telling you that you should stop running away and face your fears instead.
- Falling. If you dream that you're falling, you're not alone. It's one of the most common dreams. It could mean that you feel like you're alone and free-falling in life. The dream might be a message that you need support or a parachute to catch you when you fall, or maybe it's time you learned to fly.
- Drowning. Drowning isn't quite as common, but still a dream that can occur frequently. Drowning could signify being overwhelmed or that you've gotten in over your head, perhaps without knowing it. Other details in the dream might suggest a course of action.
- Feeling lost or stuck. If you're lost in your dreams, it could be a physical manifestation of how you truly feel. It could signify your extreme confusion about something in your life. There might be clues in the dream about what's keeping you stuck or how to find the path you need.
- Naked in public. This dream is one that's often mocked, but it's not so funny when you are the one having it! You might find yourself in a position where you're partially or fully naked in front of other people. This could mean that you're afraid of revealing too much about yourself to someone or the public. You may also feel that you've already revealed too much or have been exposed. Perhaps you're worried you'll be embarrassed. The dream may be a clue about how intense the emotion is and may even reveal what the secret is to feel comfortable in your own skin.
Resolving Your Issue
Once you've figured out what your issue is, you've done the hard part. You can now concentrate on taking action to resolve it. For example, if you're having bad dreams because you've been having trouble relaxing, you can make the effort to incorporate more relaxation into your day.
When you resolve the specific situation that's causing you stress, you'll find that your negative dreams disappear. You can then concentrate on analyzing your good dreams!