Dreams Part 3: Do Dreams Mean Something Important?

This article is the third part of our exclusive series on dreaming. To read Part One, click here. To read Part Two, click here.

Many of us have awakened from a dream and quickly asked ourselves, “What was that all about?” We’re often left wondering if the dream was a random occurrence or if it had some deep-seeded meaning.

In this series of articles, we’ve explored what dreams are and how to remember them. It’s only logical that we now ask: What, if anything, do dreams mean? After all, there are those who believe dreams are a window to what we want, while others think they’re just the result of basic neurological processes.

So, let’s differentiate between our conscious and subconscious mind.

Our Conscious Mind

While awake, we are aware of and actively participating in the world around us. We think, sense, feel, and respond to stimuli on a conscious level.

During this time, we’re typically not able to pay much attention to our inner self because there are simply too many distractions.

With all that sensory input going on around us, it’s difficult to discern what our subconscious might be saying at any given moment.

Sometimes we have instincts and gut reactions throughout the day and these may come from our deeper mind. However, it’s common for us to dismiss subconscious activity when awake. We simply don’t hear it.

Our Subconscious Mind

When we sleep, our conscious mind gets a break and experts believe the subconscious begins organizing the day’s information. Some items are filed in long-term memory while others are tossed into the trash bin.

This very normal brain activity helps put things into perspective and prepares the mind for the next day. This might explain why problems and their solutions become more manageable after we “sleep on it.”

Something incredible also happens at this time. The subconscious has an opportunity to interpret data and generate responses to it. Without the distractions of being awake, the mind gets to relay this information via dreams.

Some experts believe that the subconscious is forced to provide imagery as part of that communication and that it uses memories and creativity to help you perceive such messages.

There are dream professionals who also say it is possible to take control of your dream world without waking up.

The Secret Link

Here’s the rub. What we see in a dream isn’t necessarily related to what our mind is attempting to tell us. The random people, places, and things projected in a dream may have little or nothing to do with what the dream is really about.

When we look beyond the pictures laid over dream events and focus on our response, we stand a much better chance of decoding the dream.

Prominent psychologists place great value on dreams because they reflect our thoughts, feelings, fears, worries, and joys in life. In fact, a number of scientists now theorize that our dreams may be guided by our emotional state.

This might explain why we seem to have more bad dreams when negative things are happening in our waking hours. It may also be why nightmares occur with those who experience trauma.

If our mind uses dreaming to address questions and issues during sleep, we can assume that understanding dreams is a path to healing and personal growth.

Is it possible to interpret or “decode” and fully understand our dreams? Watch for Part Four of our dream series coming soon!