Paying attention to your dreams can provide rich insights into the issues that are playing on your mind. Dreams are the brain's way of working on important issues, problems or emotions that are leftover from when we're awake.
If you find yourself having the same or similar dreams over and over again, this should never be ignored. Your dreaming mind wants you to take note and is using the power of repetition to tell you something important for your personal growth.
You have to be willing to take your dreams seriously because the world would come to a stop if there were no one with new ideas, thought or imagination. It definitely takes a daring and tenacious effort to be on a journey to pursue something beyond your current reality. But if you do not, who will?
If we give our dreams the respect and concern they deserve, they serve us in many ways. Our dreams heal us, inform us, warn us, and bring us spiritual wisdom.
Dream interpretation has been used as a therapeutic tool. It may serve as a self-awareness resource when digging deeper into your subconscious and emotional state, and when you're working on finding peace of mind.
If you believe in dreams having meanings, getting more information about your dream allows you to interpret it in a much more manageable way. If your dream was scary or traumatic, it can be beneficial to your mental health and well-being to discuss it with a trusted friend.
Studies show that living as your authentic self can help you find more meaning in life, among other benefits. People who refuse to follow their dreams for fear of what others think are missing out on life. Research has clearly shown that people are far more likely to regret what they didn't do, than what they did.
Experts aren't sure, but there's evidence that suggests dreaming plays a role in supporting brain functions that occur while we're awake, such as processing thoughts, memories, and emotions. So, is dreaming a sign of good sleep? Researchers believe it either reflects or contributes to healthy sleep.
In his view, dreams have a psychologically restorative purpose. The nature of REM sleep, when noradrenaline is reduced and brain activity resembles that of wakefulness, may allow memories and emotions to be processed in a safe, low-stress environment, improving psychological functioning and emotional adaptation.
At this time there is little scientific evidence suggesting that dreams can predict the future. Some research suggests that certain types of dreams may help predict the onset of illness or mental decline in the dream, however.
So, why do my dreams sometimes feel so incredibly real? It comes down to how intensely stimulated parts of the brain become during REM sleep. Coupled with the powerful emotions we're experiencing within them at the same time – creating an illusion that feels more life-like than reality itself!
Despite our colloquial use of the term, for example, “my commute was a nightmare,” for an estimated 3 to 7 percent of the U.S. population, nightmares can be a real problem. Although adults can suffer from nightmares, they are more typical in children, especially those between the ages of 3 and 6.
“Dreams are often about identity, because we're figuring out who we are and what we need, and the beliefs and perspectives we hold,” says Wallace. “If you feel unfulfilled, undervalued or not the person you want to be in waking life, your dreams will often reflect that.
Such feats of dream manipulation may not seem possible to the same extent in our real lives, but they are not altogether absent. In fact, a number of people are able to experience something called lucid dreaming, and some of them are even able to control certain elements of their nightly dreams.
“Since dreams are thought to primarily occur during REM sleep, the sleep stage when the MCH cells turn on, activation of these cells may prevent the content of a dream from being stored in the hippocampus – consequently, the dream is quickly forgotten.”
There's a lot that experts don't know about why people dream and where dreams come from. However, the prevailing theory is that dreaming helps you consolidate and analyze memories (like skills and habits) and likely serves as a “rehearsal” for various situations and challenges that one faces during the daytime.
Most people need seven to eight hours of sleep to feel well-rested and energized. Sleep without dreams is the most restful sleep.
Dreaming is believed to help foster problem-solving, memory consolidation, and emotional regulation. But it is a myth that remembering your dreams is a sign of sound sleep. We dream four to five times a night, but not everyone remembers their dreams because ... they've slept through them.
It's unlikely that people never dream. It's far more likely to have issues with REM sleep, memory recall, or other sleep disturbances. Certain substances, such as caffeine, alcohol, benzodiazepines, and psychiatric medications, may affect REM sleep, which may impact dreaming.
Feeling like we have not lived up to our own expectations is the regret most likely to haunt us to the grave, new research suggests. Scientists discovered that a person's biggest regrets come from not pursuing their dreams and letting themselves down, rather than what others expect of them.
Following one's own dreams teaches a person a lot. And that is why when the young work towards their own dreams, they become more sure about themselves. They naturally learn to take the onus of their actions and fight with fire when they feel their dreams and their life is in danger.
Chasing your dreams gives you courage
As you begin pursuing your dreams, you begin to achieve success. No matter if it's a huge win or a small accomplishment, success breeds success. These wins will build courage inside you to press on and try the next scary thing.