What exactly are dreams? According to google, dreams are a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person’s mind during sleep. What deeper meaning can they hold for us? I have been thinking about this for a while now and I find it funny how they operate. They can contain images and scenarios that can mimic your real life and can have a deeper meaning than you think. I feel like dreams are your mind’s way of rationalizing your deepest thoughts and feelings. Even when the dream doesn’t have a direct relation to what may be happening in real life, the lesson taught in the dream may have meaning for you.
There are many interpretations of dreams in our world. African traditional healers say that dreams are a platform for communication with our ancestors. Ancient Chinese people thought that dreams can imply auspicious and inauspicious things. Many Native American cultures viewed the dream space as a sacred place, one where a person could step outside the bonds of mundane existence and connect with a more universal consciousness. According to Hindu culture, dream interpretation can provide a window into the future. As you can see, dreams have a lot of powerful potential in some cultures and walks of life.
I personally believe that dreams are a doorway of sorts to the heart. I feel the locales and people in the dream don’t matter as much as the actual stuff happening. If you are afraid of something in the dream, it’s the fear you are worrying about in real life. You probably fear something in your waking life. The dream is just your deep feelings manifesting in a scenario thought of by your brain utilizing things you may have seen or heard. Your brain may not be as active in your sleep as when you are awake, but it’s definitely trying to send a message.
Dreams shouldn’t be ignored. They may hold a message you may not want to deal with. They may expose what you hold in your heart. Nonetheless, what they show comes from within you somewhere, so I feel like they may yet hold another piece of the puzzle of mental health. The sensations can be powerful and you can feel like it’s real life, especially with vivid dreams. I don’t think that is just mere convenience. Dreams mean something!
Tyrone's Mental Health Blog 