from your-motivation.com

Keep a Dream Journal: Why Bother?


Want a key to unlock your inner wisdom? Try keeping a dream journal.

Experts believe that our nighttime dreams deal with concerns, worries, or events that we experience during our waking hours. A study done in 2003 speculated that about 50-percent of people have work-related nightmares.

In brief, dreams are like moves that streams through our minds, directed and produced by our subconscious. Dreams can help solve knotty problems, or simply give voice to ongoing issues. Some dreamers even implant a before-bed suggestion to dream a solution to a specific problem, like "tonight's dream will help me overcome my problem with Jack."

The connection between dreams and our subconscious has been speculated on for centuries. In fact, Aristotle theorized that there is a definite connection between dreams, emotional needs and waking experiences. However, in order to take full advantage of our nighttime movies, we need to keep dream journals that record as much detail as can be remembered.

To fully understand our dreams, experts like Carl Jung and Ira Progoff, believe a series of dreams must be examined, not just a single night's images. To assist in the interpretative process, the following steps are suggested:

1. Date and time your dream. You may find that the dreams you have just before waking have different themes than those right after going to sleep. When you date your dream, don't forget to include the year.

2. Title your dreams, like The Monkey Attacked the Cow, Airplanes Explode over the North Pole, or Jack Won't Stop Pulling My Hair. Over a period of time, you'll probably find recurring themes, like dreams with spiders, or plane crashes, or being chased.

3. Briefly note the day's events. If you write down any irritations, worries, angers, or heightened emotions you had during the day, you may be able to see a clear correlation between the day's events and your dreams.

4. Record your dream in as much detail as possible, including the emotions you experienced during the dream, AND the emotions you experienced in recording the dream. Feel free to illustrate your dream, either through a drawing or photograph.

5. List the important keywords from your dream. These might be words like love, hero, flying, snakes, puppies, peace or death.

6. Interpret the dream. Without using devices like a dream dictionary, try to interpret what you feel the dream was about. Was it about being trapped, breaking free, venting strong emotions, taking a journey, or?? There is no right or wrong answer-so allow yourself the freedom of speculating on a meaning.

7. Look for recurring themes. Once a month, look back through your dream journal, searching for repeating patterns. If you find one, your inner self is trying its best to give you an important message. Don't forget to look for patterns in your list of important keywords.

Sweet dreams!

Copyright 2004 Patti Testerman


Journal Genie, The Website That Talks Back
http://www.journalgenie.com

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included and the resource box is left unchanged. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

About The Author

Patti Testerman is content manager at JournalGenie.com, the only online site that analyzes your writing and then gives you instant feedback. Discover self-defeating patterns, find better ways to communicate in relationships. Contact her at mailto:patti@journalgenie.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Routt to hold goal-setting meeting
Jacksonville Journal Courier, IL - Nov 18, 2008
31 date for a goal-setting conference at the school, when parents, teachers, volunteers and others interested in the school will meet at Routt and spend the ...


Today is goal-setting day at Whole Child summit
Tallahassee.com, FL - Nov 17, 2008
By Jennifer Portman • DEMOCRAT SENIOR WRITER • November 18, 2008 Since its inception in 2004, Whole Child Leon has spent most of its time helping to build ...


New faces on Council discuss goal setting
Ypsilanti Courier, MI - Nov 12, 2008
With Council's goal setting sessions beginning Saturday, many members - old and new - said Water Street is first on their agenda. ...


Native Vision campers get a taste of lacrosse, basketball and culture
White Mountain Independent, AZ - 2 hours ago
Other components of the camp included teambuilding and goal-setting, which were led by camp coordinators Stephen Stake and Kristi Begaye, who were also ...


Mayor-elect Aboud urges priorities
Statesman Journal, OR - 19 hours ago
Town-hall meetings before the City Council's goal-setting session are in the works, he said. Aboud, who emphasized his experience in his campaign, ...
Write-in candidates separated by six votes Statesman Journal
all 2 news articles


Community happenings
Destin Log, FL - 13 minutes ago
New Images Modeling will host a free seminar on runway, photoposing, self- confidence and esteem building skills, motivational techniques and goal setting, ...


Companies to Curb Executive Bonuses, Stock Awards
MarketWatch - Nov 19, 2008
... year suggestscompaniesmay want to correct adisconnectin their goal-setting process and better align rewardswithmarket performance," Swinford noted. ...


Kings Park wins sixth county title
Times of Smithtown, NY - 40 minutes ago
... in the past — they didn't believe in themselves," said Thomas. "But this team has done a real good job in goal setting and this was a total team effort."


Getting help for drug addiction
Herald Times Reporter, WI - 6 hours ago
Group therapy topics include conflict with family members, anger management, goal setting and effective communication, Jodar said. ...


Small businesses need big plans to stay afloat
Tulsa World, OK - 8 hours ago
Get into the rhythm of regularly scheduled team meetings for goal-setting, reporting and accountability that take place on a daily, weekly, quarterly and ...

Goal-Setting - Google News

home | site map | links
© Career Consulting Limited 2008