Diving into the meaning of your dreams might help you learn more about your life while awake.
Consider this your starter pack for decoding it all.
Cheung points to Stephen King (“an incredible source of creativity”) as an example.
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The movieInceptionwas the result of director Christopher Nolan’s dream.
Google was inspired by Larry Page’s dream.
“During his waking conscious state, it seemed impossible.
While dreaming, your ego goes away, and glorious things can happen then,” Cheung says.
But it’s not just creativity that shows up in our dreams, she adds.
Our mental and physical health can play a starring role, toobut it might not be overt.
“Every night when we fall asleep, we have a free therapist working quietly on our behalf.
You have to learn your personal symbols and associations.
Dreams speak the language of symbols, puns, metaphors and figurative associations,” Cheung says.
“A dream is basically a poem or a work of art with meanings for you to decode.”
“You have to associate and brainstorm until you get that moment of illumination of what this relates to.
When we’re awake, many of us look to other people, things outside of ourselves.
Sit down and relax and venture to decode.
What might be related to your waking and dreaming life?
“The dreams reveal what lies beneath, which can be ugly.
This is nothing to fear.
It’s what you do with that negative impulsejust like in waking life.
Dreams are our built-in therapists.”
“Ask yourself, ‘What do I need to enhance my life?
This could be a sign of physical hunger, true.
But dreams are usually symbolic, Cheung adds.
It’s very common that the food you eat and enjoy will make a starring appearance in your dream.
“But teeth are usually about communication.”
Have you said something recently that you regret, wish you could revisit or redo?
Or are you biting your tongue and not saying something you would like to clear up?
Most frequently, it’s about that change.
But that’s extremely rare,” Cheung says.
For instance, cancer might indicate that something is “killing” your feelings of joy and creativity.
), Cheung says, “have a go at pay attention to self-care and your state of mind.
Are you running effortlessly, tripping or running before you’re able to walk?
Each of these can refer to the progress you feel like you are (or aren’t) making.
Your current direction is not helpful.
you gotta make a shift in your waking life,” Cheung says.
This may be linked to a need for independence or community.
And if you sample the recipe and notice it’s tasteless, “self-care might be a concern.
Your dreams are trying to tell you to love yourself,” Cheung says.
It need not be bad, though.
Occasional nightmares can be “transformative gifts,” she says.
“Dream recall is a sign of holistic well-being and of good mental function.
“Long-term, however, look into self-care.
