Mar 17, 2010
© Torley
Imagine what each morning would feel like if every night you knew how to dream what you wanted to dream about. One night you’re dreaming about a fabulous trip to an exotic location and the next night you dream about finally starting that exercise program you’ve been putting off. Could you wake up each morning tingling with excitement about the possibilities each new day presents?
I think it’s entirely possible. There are dreams I’ve had that have kept me enchanted all day. The feelings the dream left me with were so vivid and life like that I found myself returning to them in my mind throughout the day.
To have the kind of influence over your subconscious that would allow you that kind of power requires an incredible amount of practice for some while others may have been born with a natural gift. Since our minds are trainable (even if in school we had teachers who thought perhaps our particular mind was not…), using the right techniques to control your dreams can make a difference.
A dream is really nothing more than a visual of what our brain in an active state while we are sleeping. As our brain processes information and challenges we are facing in real life, we are fortunate enough to get to watch at times. To dream what you want to dream about, get your mind thinking about your plan before you fall asleep.
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Ever fallen asleep stressed about your job or the bills and had a terrible dream that you were being chased? Prep your brain for a better experience by thinking about what you want to dream about before you fall asleep. Just don’t think about, though, cover yourself in the detail of the experience. You have to find a way to let go of the stress that may hold you back. Want the tropical island? Soak in a warm bath with scented oil and flower petals before you go to bed. Play soothing music with water sounds in the background. Look at pictures of islands before going to sleep. Pick a specific island and map out how you would spend one solid day in such paradise.
There are multiple benefits to this process whether you believe you can learn how to dream what you want or not. Falling asleep less stressed will make you more rested when you wake up. Filling your head with possible dreams and goals gives you inspiration for doing the things you have to do each day that aren’t quite as enjoyable as a tropical adventure (like WORK!). A little positive attitude goes a very, long way.
Mar 10, 2010
© Mark Sebastian
There are both social and health related benefits of lucid dreaming. Being in control of your dreams is a confidence builder that extends into your waking life. It’s like having a resource for personal guidance – your inner self. And who knows YOU better than YOU?
Some equate lucid dreaming to a personal virtual reality play land. For those who enjoy role playing games, it is the ultimate role playing fantasy. You have control over your setting, the characters, the action, and the outcomes.
Being aware of your dream state and having that kind of influence over events, however, has practical uses, as well.
Stop Having Nightmares
Nightmares play out our worst internal fears using symbols to make those fears seem surreal, life-threatening and life-like. If you can unleash your ability to control your dreams, you have the ability to stop a nightmare in its tracks.
Rehearse Important Events
Nervous about an upcoming speech or interview? Rehearse the event in your dreams. Practice what you want to say. The experience can be just as rewarding and valuable as if you were rehearsing live.
Unlock Your Creativity
Have you ever woken from a dream you thought would make an incredible story? Your mind is so free to create fantastical plot lines, characters and backgrounds. For many of us, the creativity we experience in our dreams far surpasses what we’re capable of producing when we are awake. Improving dream recall and exerting some influence over the movie in your head can expand the creativity your capable of when you are awake. Many fiction writers get their ideas for stories from their dreams.
Build Self Confidence
The benefits of lucid dreaming extend into other areas of our daily lives. As a girl, I was always incredibly shy. Those who are not, who seem to ooze charisma and self-confidence seem to have so many more doors open to them seemingly without any difficulty at all. It’s difficult being shy and constantly afraid of being the center of attention or of making a fool of yourself in front of others. In your dreams, you can practice being more social. You can design situations where you are in more control, where you have the confidence you want to possess in real life, where you are the one who has new doors open to them.
Boost Your Will Power
Athletes are taught to “experience the win”. They are told to visualize themselves making the touchdown, crossing the finish line first, or performing the perfect play. Visualizing such success helps establish a focus on the main objective. You can use dream control to do the same for your own personal goals. Those who want to lose weight can use their dreams to visualize themselves going to the gym or starting a new exercise program, having more control over what they choose to eat, and seeing themselves become thinner as a result. Once you see yourself going to the gym and feeling great from an incredible workout in your dreams, you can more easily encourage yourself to do the same in real life.
Heal Emotional Stress
You’ve seen those charts that show you how stressful certain life events can be? Losing a job, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, going through a divorce or moving to a new city can all be emotionally stressful. Sometimes we don’t even realize how much that stress is affecting us until we start wondering why we are so tired or grouchy all the time. Use your dreams to see yourself overcoming whatever stressful situation you are going through and design the future you want to have. You’ll be establishing a set of positive emotions that will help override the natural stress of everyday challenges.
The benefits of lucid dreaming can touch all aspects of your life – your creative output, your emotional well-being, and your self-esteem. What could you create if you literally held the brush and the pen for every dream you had from now on?
