Time after time, we've heard people complain that they can't remember their dreams. Some even claim that they don't have dreams, although, of course, we all
do, whether we remember them or not. Teaching yourself
to remember your dreams can bring many benefits. Besides
gaining useful insights into your own subconscious,
dreams can help you solve problems, make decisions,
find inspiration and boost your creativity.
Before we begin handing out tips, be aware that to
achieve the best results, you'll have to follow these
steps consistently for at least a month, although some
people will experience positive results in less time.
You may not be able to remember anything right away.
Don't give up. Eventually, your dreams will reveal themselves
to you.
Start by keeping a notebook and pen next to your bed.
Set your alarm to go off about fifteen minutes early
in the morning. After the alarm goes off, sit up and
try to remember the last thing you dreamt before waking.
Don't write anything down yet and don't force your mind
to focus. Just relax and allow the images to come back
to you. Give yourself a full five minutes of silence
for this to happen. Then write down anything
that comes to you.
Don't turn on the TV or radio right away. If possible,
avoid conversation. As you prepare for the day, allow
your mind to sift through whatever thoughts come to
you. Just before you're ready to go, spend that last
extra five minutes jotting down any new recollections
or ideas you may have had.
If possible, avoid listening to the radio on your way
to work or school. Let your mind continue to process
the work it did during the night. A small voice recorder
can be a wonderful aid, allowing you to record your
thoughts while keeping your eyes on the road.
Earlier, we talked about using your dreams to solve
problems and make decisions. After you improve your
ability to recall your dreams, you can ask your subconscious
mind to work on answers while you sleep. Just focus
strongly on the question you need a response to for
five minutes before falling asleep.
Don't expect the answer to be immediately obvious.
For example, one man wanted to know how bad a problem
in his relationship was. In his dream, a comet sped
towards the earth... but when it hit, nothing happened.
The answer was that the current situation wasn't the
end of the world.
Dreams can also provide inspiration and boost your
creativity. As you learn to recall them, you'll find
a wealth of ideas. What comes to you will depend on
your interests and talents. It could be a melody, a
new way of doing things at the office or a decorating
idea. With practice, you can glean new ideas from your
dreams nearly every night. The key is to get them down
before they're forgotten.
So...tonight, as you tuck yourself in, realize that
you're about to embark on a great adventure. What you
do with the treasures you find is up to you. Sweet dreams!
