Why Did You Dream That?

When someone says something that we find surprising or unexpected, we often reply “why did you say that?” We seek to understand where the statement came from. We want to know the background, the perspective, and how it relates to us. But when we dream…. what do we do? We typically try to find some hidden meaning in the imagery. We try to relate it to some meaningful event or incident. We try to associate it with things we think we understand – money, love, death, wealth, etc. There are countless books, articles and experts you can consult to try to understand dreams. This is not one of those.

Consider where you are as you read this. Consider all the events in your life so far, all the circumstance and forces that have shaped who you are, that have led you to this point. Consider how much of this journey you feel that you have control over, and how much seems like it is beyond your control.

Now consider your dreams – do they seem to be a response to the world around you, or do they represent your intentions? You may want to draw a distinction between the images that emerge while you sleep and your stated goals. The two may seem unrelated. But consider how you reflect on your dreams as opposed to how you reflect on your goals. Where do you find more meaning? The key is to remember that when we search for meaning, we are measuring something against our values. When we truly understand and embody our values, we can make sense of our dreams. That in turn can inform what we do next.

Please remember that circumstances have real impact on us. Like our conscious thoughts, our dreams can leave us feeling threatened, angry or otherwise agitated. Usually, if we take a moment to reflect, we can identify a source of stress or a challenge that can affect our mood. And other factors – illness, lack of sleep, poor diet, to name a few – will also influence our thoughts and feelings. Inevitably, this affects our dreams.

But ultimately, we are in control. Not of our feelings, but of how we manage them. The same goes for our dreams. We can choose to examine them or not. We can allow them to dominate us, or not. We have the power to decide. When we decide to examine our dreams, we learn more about ourselves. When we do this without judgment, we gain greater understanding of who we are and what truly matters to us.

This is a process, and a journey. It can help to surround yourself with people who support you. You don’t need to agree with them all the time – in fact, it is better for you and them to have different perspectives and insights. What drew me to joining Design Dream Lab is that although people are different, we share a common desire to fulfill a dream, and the willingness to support each other in this pursuit. And we remind each other to ask ourselves the question – why did I dream that?