Why Should We Remember Our Dreams

We all dream, but most of us have forgotten our dreams when we wake up in the morning. Most of the time, we don’t think about how important it is to remember our dreams. However, remembering our dreams can actually strengthen our connection with our subconscious, contribute to our personal development, and benefit our mental health. Remembering dreams contains many clues and meanings about our mental world. In this article, we will discover why it is important to remember our dreams and how we can achieve this.

1. We Communicate with Our Subconscious

Dreams are a language of our subconscious. As Freud said, dreams are the “kingdom of the subconscious.” Our minds give us messages about the emotional experiences, anxieties, fears, and traces in our subconscious that we experience while awake. Dreams are a way to express these emotional burdens and understand thoughts and feelings that we have forgotten to process. When many people start to remember their dreams, they may realize internal conflicts or desires that they had not noticed before. For example, someone who frequently dreams of flying may be on a deep quest for freedom in their life.

The importance of dreams in connecting with our subconscious is not only to receive these messages but also to try to understand them. Remembering dreams strengthens this internal communication.

2. It is a Valuable Tool for Personal Development

Our dreams are not limited to messages from our subconscious; they are also a powerful source that encourages our personal development. Dream interpretations can help us purify ourselves from past traumas, fears, or unresolved internal issues. Some dreams can guide us to make conscious choices for the future.

For example, if a person constantly dreams of getting lost, this may symbolize a situation in their life where they feel disoriented or indecisive. Remembering and thinking about such a dream can lead the person to gain a new perspective on how to cope with this indecisiveness.

Dreams can also help us realize goals and desires that are difficult to reach with the conscious mind. A theme or symbol that you frequently follow can be a sign that will keep you on the right track on your personal development journey.

3. Emotional Health and Stress Management

Dreams help us process the stress and anxiety in our daily lives during a time when the mind is resting. The dreams we experience while sleeping allow us to analyze the emotional difficulties and sources of stress we encounter in our daily lives. Dreams are like a tool for the mind to discharge its emotions.

Remembering dreams during stressful periods gives a person the chance to express their feelings and thoughts. For example, a stressful work situation or a family problem can be expressed through symbols in dreams. By focusing on these symbols, a person can better understand their emotional state and develop healthy ways to cope.

4. Increases Creativity and Problem Solving Ability

Dreams can be the source of creative ideas. Dreams, which inspire many artists, scientists and writers, emerge in an area where the subconscious works freely. Dreams, especially those related to problem solving and innovative thinking, can offer ideas and perspectives on problems that cannot be solved in the real world.

Dreams allow the mind to search for alternative paths in the background when solving complex problems is difficult with the conscious mind. For example, the famous scientist Kekulé discovered the structure of benzol by dreaming that snakes were intertwined in his dream in order to solve the structure of the benzol ring.

Focusing on your dreams to support your creative processes can help you push the limits of your mental power and find unusual solutions.

5. Practical Ways to Remember Your Dreams

Remembering dreams can be difficult at times, but developing certain habits can make the process easier. Here are a few practical ways to remember your dreams:

• Keep a Dream Journal: Write down everything you remember as soon as you wake up. This is the most effective way to keep your dreams in your memory. Over time, you may find that your dreams will become more distinct and clear.
• Set Positive Intentions: Setting an intention before bed, such as "Today I will remember my dreams," can help your mind focus on your dreams.
• End the Night Relaxingly: Falling asleep after a stressful day can make it harder to remember your dreams. Meditating or reading a relaxing read in the evening can help you fall asleep more deeply and peacefully.
• Shut Down Your Thought Stream: Stopping your thoughts and clearing your mind of the stress of the day before going to bed can improve your dream recall process.

6. Spiritual and Philosophical Perspectives

According to some belief systems, dreams open doors to a spiritual dimension. Dreams can be messages from a higher consciousness or spirit guides. From this perspective, remembering dreams is an opportunity for a person to discover themselves more deeply and take a step into their spiritual journey.

However, in a philosophical sense, dreams shape our thoughts on existence and consciousness. Dreaming allows us to question how we view the world while we are awake and invites us to rethink the boundaries between reality and illusion.