Every one of us has had positive, negative, and neutral dream experiences from childhood to where we currently are in life. Whether it was a nightmare of what scary creature may lay in our closet as a child, or a euphoric vision of what we wish were real, every person has faced their unique spectrum of dreams. In my opinion, dreaming is an incredible and almost surreal concept to ponder. As we shut our eyes in hopes of restful sleep, many people face an average of three to five dreams every night, particularly during the stage of rapid eye movement (REM). I have always been fascinated by my own dreams and those of others: what are they trying to say? How are they related to one’s subconscious? Am I reading too much into this? Although I may not know the answers to all of these questions, and people view this topic in different ways, let’s consider how subconsciousness relates to dreams.
An essential part of dreams is whether or not they are related to one’s subconscious. According to Mirriem-Webster’s Dictionary, subconsciousness describes the mental activities just below the threshold of consciousness. This is an important tool that can easily go unnoticed, but when studied, can lead to much personal growth and self-improvement. It is also believed that the way in which individuals think, feel, and interact with their subconscious during the day has a significant impact on the content of their nightly dreams. For example, if someone feels as though they have a loss of control over their life or if they are overwhelmed, a common dream is that of free-falling. This can also be linked to insecurity and trying to grasp a sense of support. Oftentimes, these pointed and meaningful dreams will continue to occur until the problem or emotional block is removed. However, much of this is subjective and people have conflicting opinions on whether dreams are random or convey messages.
As previously mentioned, I believe that not all dreams are random or coincidental. In my own life and experiences, I have noticed that a recurring dream is oftentimes connected to an unaddressed or suppressed problem that I may be facing. Instead of being alarmed by these images and scenarios, I find comfort in their mysterious nature. Ranging from blissful dreams that I fondly recall to daunting ones that I wake up from in a cold sweat, it is captivating to think and read about. If you feel so inclined, I encourage you to start taking note of what you dream about. It does not have to be every single night, but if you notice a repeating pattern of concepts, ideas, or images, think of what may be causing it. Dreams are bizarre and mystifying, but may lead to learning more about yourself and problems you may be unknowingly suppressing.
Sources
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/health/a11043/8-common-dreams-and-what-they-mean/