Dreams are a way for the brain to sort through and process information that is not needed for immediate use. Dreams can have different purposes, but they all seem to share some similar aspects.
One common purpose of dreams is to teach us valuable lessons about ourselves. For example, a common dream theme is being chased by an unknown threat.
In this situation, what we need in order to survive may be our own ability to run fast or the ability to fight off an attacker. Dreams may give us metaphors for skills we lack during waking life in order for us to grow as people and acquire these skills so that we can feel safe in reality.
Another purpose of dreams could be emotional processing; at night, when we are still, our emotions may run free without any inhibition and without the distractions of daytime.
What Is A Dream?
A dream is a succession of images, ideas, emotions and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Dreaming is a normal part of REM sleep. In fact, humans spend about six hours every night dreaming.
A person’s dream may seem real while they are dreaming it. Unlike a dream that you might have when awake, dreams that occur during REM sleep appear to the person as though they’re actually happening because dreams are created mostly from information your brain receives from your senses when you’re awake.
Why Do Dreams Have Different Meanings?
Dreams can be interpreted in many different ways because there are so many possibilities. There is no set meaning for a dream, but it mostly depends on the intention. This can come from the dreamer, their family, friends, or a therapist.
Let’s say we have a dream with one certain person who had died in that same day. In this type of situation, the body is releasing endorphins and hormones as a response to stress, which would cause dreams to be more vivid and intense. Dreams are more likely to show themes that have been on your mind recently – including death or anything related to it like funerals, burials, and cemeteries.
Common Dream Topics
Falling
Dreams about falling can have many different meanings, but some of the most common are related to maintaining a sense of control in your life.
If you are dreaming of falling, it could be that you feel like you can’t keep up with the demands of daily life. You may feel anxiety or fear for your safety and security. You may also feel like your life is spinning out of control, and you’re not sure how to get it back on track.
Being Chased
A dream about being chased usually means that the person is feeling insecure and threatened. It can also represent the person’s fear of punishment for some wrongdoing they committed.
The dreamer may be feeling a sense of insecurity or vulnerability in their waking life, which resonates in the dream with feelings of being chased, grabbed or ambushed. Alternatively, it may represent a fear that something bad will happen if they don’t act fast.
Exams
A dream about an exam is interpreted as a death or a birth. One of the most common ways to interpret dreams is to understand them as symbols that represent something else.
A dream about an exam would typically be interpreted as death if it’s being taken by someone who knows they are dying soon and/or if they are taking the exam, or birth if the person is going through either a pregnancy or some other kind of rebirth.
Money
Dreams about money could represent a multitude of things. The most common interpretations are that it is an indication of insecurity or greed.
Some say that the meaning of a dream about money can relate to one’s current financial situation, such as needing more money, or being afraid to spend what they have.
It can also relate to fears about the future and how they will be financially secure in retirement, or concerns about financial stability in their family. It could also signify greed and other things such as coveting what others have, feelings of being entitled to more than one has, and so on.
Water
Dreams about water can be interpreted in many ways. There are many different possibilities for the meaning of a dream about water, and it might not be an easy task to narrow them down.
The most common interpretation of a dream about water is that it is symbolic of emotions and feelings. These emotions could either be positive or negative. Another possible interpretation would be that you need to do something with your life, like start going back to school or find a new job.
Marriage
Some people have marriage on their mind because they are considering proposing. A marriage proposal is a big decision in a relationship, and the anticipation of it can make someone uneasy. A dream about marriage could also mean that you are feeling insecure in your relationship with your partner, or that there is some other issue going on between you two.
On the other hand, if you dreamed that you were getting married and felt nothing but happiness, then it could mean that your dreams are coming true! You might be experiencing a new sense of confidence now, or maybe this dream means something else entirely.
Dreams are a form of communication from the subconscious to the conscious. They are influenced by our surroundings and experiences as well as by things that we have seen, touched, smelled, eaten or heard. They don’t always have a deep and meaningful reason, but it’s fun to , and look at the meanings, even if they are a little bit crazy!
