Have you ever wondered what your dreams mean, why we dream, or how? I know I certainly have and many a scientist has too. Sadly, there is no definitive answer to these questions but there is a lot you can learn about dreams that you might not have known before now.
#1 You Dream An Average Of Seven Times Per Night
Even if you can’t remember your dreams it doesn’t mean you’re not having them. Everyone dreams nightly and on average you will have seven dreams per night (though some people have been reported having dozens!). Believe it or not, it’s likely that the majority of people will have over 100,000 dreams in their lifetime – that’s pretty incredible if you ask me.
#2 Recurring Dreams Are Trying to Tell You Something
Have you ever had the same dream (or more likely the same nightmare) over and over again? If so you’re not alone. Evidence suggests that everyone has a recurring dream at some point (I know I’ve had more than a few!) and that more often than not the dream is your mind’s way of trying to tell you something.
Recurring dreams deliver a very important message about an issue we need to address in our lives, though what that issue is differs from person to person. Keep a dream journal to note any recurring themes in your dreams and this may help you figure out your message. One of the most common recurring dreams is falling, which often signifies that someone has lost control of something in their lives. Once you solve the issue in your waking hours chances are your recurring dream will fade into memory.
#3 The Most Common Dream Is Your Partner Cheating
Chances are that at one point or another we’ve all woken in a fluster having dreamt that our other half is cheating. Don’t panic if this sounds like you, however, and don’t panic even if it happens on a recurring basis. Studies show that the most common dream around the world is that your partner is cheating, for men and women alike. It doesn’t mean that the dream is real, however; it’s simply an expression of the universal fear of being left alone or wronged in some way.
#4 Dreaming Helps You Learn
For a lot of us, we continue studying or working into the early hours when we have a big exam or deadline of some type coming up, depriving ourselves of sleep as we cram in every last piece of information we can. As it happens, however, you’re actually much more likely to remember what you’ve learned if you put aside the textbooks and enter dreamland. Studies show that dreaming is your brain’s way of helping you to process, understand, and remember new information. Suddenly a nap during a lecture doesn’t sound too bad after all!
#5 You Can Linger In Your Dreams
I don’t know about you, but all too often I’ve woken from a blissful dream and found myself determined not to wake up. Instead of facing the morning I’ve simply lain still and lingered in my dream for just a few moments longer, returning to the world of The Vampire Diaries or a pearly-white beach.
As it happens, reclaiming your dreams for but a few minutes is something everyone can do. All you need to do is stay perfectly still when you wake up. Don’t move even a muscle and start remembering your dream. As soon as you move you disconnect your body from your dream so stay still and you should be able to linger in your dream for a few minutes more.
#6 Dreams Can Be Controlled
As random as dreams may seem, they don’t always have to be that way. Believe it or not, you have the power to control your dreams. The phenomenon of being aware in your dreams or even being able to control the direction of them is called ‘lucid dreaming’ and is something all of us have the ability to do – though for some it takes a lot of practice.
Once you’ve mastered lucid dreaming you’ll suddenly have the ability to do whatever you want within your dreams. In theory, you’ll be able to fly, turn the monster chasing you into Ian Somerhalder, or simply wake yourself up if you need to escape a nightmare. It all starts with recognizing that you’re dreaming, which isn’t always an easy feat.
The best way to do this is to remind yourself you want to lucid dream before you drift off or if you have a recurring dream remember it before you go to sleep and remember it’s not real. As soon as you realize you’re dreaming it’s much easier to take the next step and control your dreams.
I don’t know about you but I love dreaming – especially if I have a lucid dream. Sure, my dreams are weird and wacky and there is no definitive way to understand them but they’re pretty amazing nonetheless. Hopefully, after reading this, you’ve learned a little something about dreaming and you’re looking forward to hitting the hay tonight. Sweet dreams!
Cover photo: www.weheartit.com
Add Comment