Photo courtesy of Caroline So
GOOD DREAM
Discovering a new room in your house
What it might mean
Learning something new about yourself
Related: How to Have Happier Dreams and Get a Good Night's Rest
GOOD DREAM
Flying
What it might mean
Rising above your cares or reaching high goals
GOOD DREAM
Sex
What it might mean
Sex!
GOOD DREAM
Pregnancy
What it might mean
Very creative, giving birth to a new idea or project
GOOD DREAM
Swimming underwater in a beautiful location
What it might mean
A sense of freedom, “bathing” in the positive aspects of yourself
Also see: How to Get Back to Sleep After a Nightmare
Mars and Venus in Dreamland
Bad dreams differ by gender, according to research at the University of Montreal. Men report more nightmares about natural disasters: floods, earthquakes, wars, plagues of insects. Women dream more of interpersonal conflict—fights with friends, colleagues and family members.
Total Recall
Are you one of those people who thinks they NEVER dream? “We all dream. You’re just not remembering your dreams,” says Lauri Loewenberg, a dream analyst and author of Dream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life. Light sleepers naturally recollect more because they often wake up in the middle of theirs. Thankfully, dream recall is like a muscle—you can strengthen it with some exercise:
Don’t move.
Linger quietly in the exact position you woke up in for a few minutes. “If you leap up instantly and dash for the shower, it’s like unplugging from your dream,” explains Loewenberg.
Find one detail.
Try to recall any thin thread you can. “You might only remember red lipstick. Ask yourself who was wearing it. What was she doing? How did you feel about her?” says Loewenberg. Other details may quickly follow.
Write it down.
Keeping a bedside journal can help connect you to the dreaming part of your brain. Write down your dreams or sketch them out and give each one a title. Where the Heck are My Airline Tickets?
