The Power That Lies Within Your Dreams

On average, we have about 4 to 6 dreams per night. Most of these dreams go unnoticed or become a distant memory as soon as we wake up.

It’s no wonder why many of our wildest dreams are often overlooked or forgotten. We dream so frequently it can be hard to recognize significant ones amongst the endless amount of filler.

It’s why we pay little attention to the content in them. On a superficial level, our dreams are merely a sequence of meandering thoughts and emotions gathered during the day, showcased to us in a series of short stories while we sleep.

But despite the unmemorable nature of most dreams, every now and then, we experience a profound dream that dwells in our psyche for years to come.

A remarkable and impactful dream that accentuates the thoughts and desires buried deep in our subconscious minds.

Yet, many of us still choose to disregard its significance. Keeping it tucked away in the corners of our minds, referring to it as a fond and distant memory.

Do you have a particular dream that comes to mind? One so fascinating and glorious, you would give anything just to experience it again for one night?

Or perhaps one you would prefer not to experience again? A nightmare that was so disturbing and depressing, that it leaves you confused as to how your mind could conjure such an unpleasant experience.

(If you have one, try and keep it in mind as you read through the rest of this article)

You see, regardless of the nature of our dreams, I believe they all serve the same purpose.

To act as a bridge that connects the thoughts of the unconscious mind to that of the conscious.

They allow us to gain a better understanding of who we are as people. They show us fears and trauma that would be unbeknownst to us while we go about our daily lives.

They are windows into our inner being, giving us a peek at the emotions lingering around the confines of our unconscious minds.

“And it is only after seeing man as his unconscious, revealed by his dreams, presents him to us that we shall understand him fully. We are what we are because we have been what we have been”

-Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams

Sigmund Freud is a renowned neurologist from Austria who is widely regarded as the “Father of Psychoanalysis”.

(Psychoanalysis is a method of studying psychic phenomena and using it to treat varying psychological problems. This type of analysis usually takes place in therapy.)

Freud regards dreams as an important tool in understanding the relationship between the unconscious and conscious mind.

Throughout his research, he reached a conclusion that the content in our dreams can be divided into two categories: manifest content and latent content.

The manifest is the storyline and literal subject matter of the dream. What you see, touch, and hear falls into manifest content.

The latent content is the symbolic nature hidden within the storyline. It’s the range of emotions you feel during and after the dream. This is where the thoughts of the unconscious mind can be uncovered.

For example, when I was younger, I had a recurring dream I would look in the mirror, and all my teeth would fall out. This would be classed as manifest content.

I remember feeling mortified. I was disgusted by my appearance and feared the embarrassment I would face from my peers. It made me feel so insecure that I wanted to hide away for the rest of my life. This would be latent content.

By analyzing the latent content (how the dream made you feel), you can gain an invaluable insight into your hidden desires, strengths, and fears. A great and effective way to do so is by keeping a dream journal.

Writing or studying your dreams is a great way to understand their significance.

Not only that, it helps you to remember dreams more, allows you to identify patterns and themes, increases the quantity and quality of future dreams, and allows you to communicate with your unconscious mind.

Thus greatly improving the understanding of your unique and enigmatic personality. Which leads to a better understanding of yourself as a whole.

“The dream is the liberation of the spirit from the pressure of external nature, a detachment of the soul from the fetters of matter”

-Sigmund Freud