The Secret life of Dreams…
Every night while we are sleeping, our dreams are having
their own secret life. Dreams serve many functions which support
our waking lives: they allow our mind to sort and file data
that has been acquired during the day and to release any emotional
tension that has not been processed. Dreams are doorways to
the subconscious and help us to see how we really feel about
our lives. Our dreams tell us the truth about ourselves. They
are an expression of our true sense of our self.
The average adult dreams from three to five times during eight
hours of sleep. The dreams occur roughly every 90 to 100 minutes
and last from 5 to 30 minutes each. During the dream state,
the pathways that carry nerve impulses from the brain to the
muscles are blocked. Therefore, the body cannot move while
in a dream state. At the same time, the cerebral cortex—the
part of the brain involved in higher functions—is extremely
active. It is known that the cortex is stimulated by neurons
that carry impulses from the brain stem. There is a lot of
emotional content in our dreams. Unresolved conflicts, concerns
about performance, and feelings about people and situations
are played out in the dream world. Dreaming seems to provide
a means of releasing tension and anxieties that we unconsciously
suppress during our waking lives.
It is much healthier to express the content of the dreams
rather than to repress them. In the process of becoming whole,
dreams of violence, murder, even death, are all ways in which
our subconscious is allowing a milieu of thoughts, feelings
and impressions to escape our busy minds. Dreams give us release
from our inner conflicts and insight into our personal potential
and promise. Dreaming is a process and the dream is a creation
produced by our minds to create harmony in our lives.
During our waking life we are always receiving clues and insights
from our Inner Self, but we are usually too busy to pay attention.
We are too busy, too distracted–too caught in our lives–
to hear important messages that come from inside. In our conscious
waking life we are not always open to the messages. We may
also be unwilling to look at what is really happening with
our lives. It is during the dream state that this information
is often revealed.
Dreams are also direct routes into our Higher Consciousness/Inner
Selves. Dreams may contain the most direct spiritual teaching
we can receive. Every dream we have relates directly to some
facet of our life. In one sense the dream world is as real
as waking, and we are not consciously editing the information.
It comes through whether we like it or not, whether we invite
it or not. It is important to remember our being is more than
just a physical body. Our being contains our spiritual self—our
truth, our souls. Our dream world can frequently reveal this
to us better than our waking life. Our lives contain lessons
for our souls and in some senses the dream world can provide
learning experiences that more directly involve our souls.
This has a lot to do with the integration of the various aspects
of ourselves. Sometimes these parts are cut off from our waking
consciousness. By making the separate parts of ourselves one,
dreams become an essential step in the process of our becoming
whole, healthy people.
Tips for Remembering Dreams…
- Go to bed early… Don’t get overtired before
going to sleep.
- Review and process your day—clear your mind.
- Keep a Dreamwork journal and writing materials by your
bed.
- Lie still when you first wake up, reviewing your dreams.
- Record everything you remember, including how you felt.
- Use your intuition to relate your dreams to your life.
- Discuss your dreams with someone else. In talking about
the dream you will remember new things.
Zoilita Grant MS CCHt has been studying dreams since she
was a child. She has had several dreams that have been major
influences on her own life. Zoilita produces a line of books
and CDs that are designed for personal transformation including
an interactive Dreamwork journal and dream programming CD.
Zoilita Grant MS. CCHt. is the Director of the Colorado School
of Counseling Hypnotherapy and has maintained a private practice,
specializing in Hypnosis for almost 35 years. In 2000 Zoilita
was selected as Educator of the year by the International
Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association. In addition,
Zoilita serves as Vice President of the American Council of
Hypnotist Examiners. She is an examiner for both the American
Council of Hypnotist Examiners and the International Medical
and Dental Hypnotherapy Association. In June of 2004 she became
President of the Colorado Association of Psychotherapists.
You can find more about her work at www.zoilitagrant.net
www.coloradohypnotherapy.com
or by calling 303-776-6103
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