Why we dream and the importance of dreams in our human experience.
IMPORTANCE OF DREAMS – For many centuries, many experts attempt to unlock the mysteries of this but really, what does the purpose it serves?
A normal part of the human experience, specifically when sleeping, is having a dream. These are the scenarios in our minds that happen when we sleep. This can occur in any stage of sleep but mostly, they are vivid during the REM phase.
The purpose of dreams, why people dream, and the importance of dreams remain a great mystery to many experts. This has been studied for centuries but still, many parts remain in the gray area.
Here are the different types of dreams:
- Recurring dreams
- Daydreams
- False-awakening dreams
- Lucid dreams
- Nightmares
Based on the 1899 book, The Interpretation of Dreams, of Sigmund Freud, dreams are meaningful and and holds secret about our subconscious wishes. In the late 1970s, it has been associated with activation-synthesis hypothesis, a neurobiological way to explain the origin of dreams.
In modern times, psychologist and consciousness expert Dr. Matthew Erdelyi said that “the question in modern psychology should not be whether dreams have meaning but whether it is possible for dreams not to have meaning.”
The findings over the importance of this phenomena while we sleep are:
- It reflects recent life concerns. It could be connected or related to the events that have happened to a day or two prior which is called the day-residue effect. If it reappears 5-7 days later, it is called the dream-lag effect.
- The emotions we feel in the dream play a significant role. The emotions you feel in a dream might help you reflect on some issues in your life.
- Dreams consolidate memory. This means that you can better recall some things in your life if you have seen it in your dreams and this could also be telling you of what’s important and needs to be remembered.
- It may tell you about what is going to happen in the future. American 20th century mystic Edgar Cayce said: “Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions.”
- There could be meanings and what it symbolizes is personal. The meaning depends on unique personalities and life experiences.
We don’t usually remember most of our dreams but the details are sure strange and mind-altering.
What can you say about this? Let us know in the comments!