Dreams can be your wildest fantasies or the most startling hallucinations. Scientists and researchers haven’t been able to figure out the exact reason why dreams occur and what they actually mean. Some claim that they are a representation of the memories buried deep in our mind, while others claim that they represent one’s deepest desires and fears. Either way, it’s quite incredible how dreams can feel just like real life. As Cobb from ‘Inception’ states, “Dreams feel real while we’re in them. It’s only when we wake up that we realize, something was actually strange.”
If you’re fortunate enough, you may be able to be aware that you’re dreaming, a phenomenon known as ‘lucid dreaming’. It is said that lucid dreaming enhances creativity and even improves motor skills due to the activation of the sensorimotor cortex in the brain. This ability gives you the power to do everything you’ve ever wanted to, in your dream. Sounds pretty cool right? However, lucid dreaming frequently blurs the line between dreams and reality, which could prove to be quite dangerous. Even the fleeting thought of something unpleasant or frightening may transform your perfect dream into a full-blown nightmare!
Nightmares are quite unsettling and vividly realistic. Some common nightmares that most of us have experience are, falling off from a building, being trapped in the dark, or being chased by your greatest fear. Observations show that nightmares are a result of our subconscious mind expressing self-doubt or negativity through symbolism. For instance, dreaming of being cornered apparently symbolizes loneliness or insecurity, while embarrassing dreams could signify a lack of confidence.
Analysing these symbols may even help you overcome these fears. Dream analysis has proven to be useful especially in the case of premonitions, called precognitive dreams. Premonitions in dreams are incredibly fascinating but also very rare. Verified sources claim that victims of tragedies like 9/11 and the Titanic had dreams warning them about the imminent catastrophe.
It is also believed that dreams are a channel to communicate with the spirits, which is why we are able to experience such astounding feats. Across different religions, there is a plethora of spiritual interpretations of dreams. For instance, dreaming of rain is said to symbolize that it is time to communicate with others, while the occurrence of beach signifies enjoyable times ahead.
But most of all, dreams have the power to inspire new ideas. They enable us to approach complex problems in creative ways that our conscious mind did not think of. Dmitri Mendeleev, on creating a farsighted version of the periodic table of elements stated, “In a dream, I saw a table where all the elements fell into place as required. Awakening, I immediately wrote it down on a piece of paper.” In conclusion, dreams are truly intriguing and inspirational. We achieve more when we dream and aspire. So, always remember to never be afraid to dream a little bigger!
