46 First for women 10/19/15

Which images do you see in your sleep? Experts reveal hidden messages that can make you smarter, happier and calmer

When we wake up from our dreams, it’s easy to shrug them off as figments of our imagination. But research suggests

these narratives are actually powerful tools for self-discovery. “Dreams help us process what’s going on below the surface,” explains Michael Lennox, Ph.D., author of Dream Sight. “They serve as a reflection of the soul’s journey and help us grow in wisdom—provided we pay attention.”

And you don’t have to fully remember or make sense of your dreams come morning to get the benefits, assures Kelly Sullivan Walden, coau-thor of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dreams and Premonitions. “Often it’s just one dream symbol that holds the key to better understanding.”

The pictures on the following pages illustrate common scenarios. Just choose the one that best represents your last dream (or the photo you’re inexplicably drawn to), then read on to discover the surprising messages it reveals—and how you can use it to heighten your joy.

by decoding your dreams

Though you graduated decades ago, your dream drops you back into chemistry class…on exam day. “The classroom is the first environment in which we’re measured,” says Walden. So school appears when we’re feeling held accountable for something.

When you wake, consider, Whom am I trying to please? If you are responsible for meeting their expectations (say, your boss), Walden suggests ensuring your duties are completed. But in other cases, you might benefit from pushing back. “In life we’re constantly tested,” Walden points out. “You don’t have to make the grade with everyone.”

It’s time to seize control

You never noticed the door at the back of your hall closet before. Curious, you yank it open and find a beautifully decorated parlor. “I call this the ‘inner resource’ dream,” says Lennox. “It reminds us we are capable of so much more than we realize. Our potential is vast.”

Agrees Walden, “Many of us go through life knowing just a few of our ‘rooms.’ But then sometimes we get to glimpse another.” For instance, you sign up for a dance class and realize, Wow, I’m good at this! “You went all those years and had no idea that talent was there.”

If you dream of an extra room, try asking yourself, What new resources within myself might I begin to explore? Says Walden, “Your sub-conscious is telling you to go for it.”

It’s time to take a riskA SECRET DOOR

A SURPRISE TEST

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Dreams of being lost are rooted in anxiety, but they ultimately foster resilience, asserts Walden. “These dreams tend to occur during times of transition,” she says—on the heels of a job loss or a child leaving home for college, for instance. “This dream means you’re problem-solving; you’re transforming.” When you wake, take a moment to consider the parts of your life in flux, then look to any positives that may result from the change, she suggests. Maybe now you can convert your child’s unused bedroom to an office for the greeting-card business you’ve been wanting to start. Says Walden, “When you attach yourself to what’s around the bend—rather than what’s behind you—you won’t feel so lost.”

It’s time to look forward

There you are, presenting to a crowd, when you realize you’re wearing nothing but a bra and panties. Yikes! “Dreams of being naked in public are common among people who value presenting themselves well—and yet feel they don’t live up to the image,” Walden explains. “But this dream does not mean you’re falling short. It means your self-perception is skewed.” So give yourself some credit—ideally in writ-ing. “Reflect on what’s making you feel inadequate, then jot down ways that qual-ity enriches your life,” Walden suggests. For instance, if you feel you’re bad at small talk, you might write how that makes you a great listener. “Taking pride in who we are can counter those imposter feelings.”

A CONFUSING MAZE

A NAKED SPEECH

It’s time to believe in you

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So what if you can’t read sheet music when you’re awake? In your dreams, you’re tickling the ivories, banging out epic drum solos or blowing sweet jazz licks on the trumpet. “The sense of flow and joyful connectedness associated with playing an instrument makes this dream incredibly posi-tive,” says dream expert Kelly Sullivan Walden. “It suggests you’re getting into a groove, that you’ve stumbled onto something that nourishes your soul.” Once you wake up, think about the pursuits making you most happy right now and expand your efforts. Enjoying your weekend jogs? Go out and crush a 5K. Discovered that you have a green thumb? Dig in to a com-munity garden project. Says Walden, “Take that musical energy from your dream and carry it into your life.”

It’s time to chase bliss

One second you’re enjoying the view of the blue sky and a peaceful lake from a perch on a blustery cliff; the next, you’re plum-meting toward the water with your arms flailing and the wind blowing through your hair. This frightening dream may awaken you with a pounding chest and sweaty palms, but in it you always survive, notes Walden. And that is the optimistic message this scenario is sending you.

Walden explains that falling tends to represent underlying fears about certain ambitions or yearnings that are weighing on your mind. The takeaway for when you wake? Plan carefully before taking a leap. “In our society, we’re sometimes led to believe that upward equals good and downward equals bad,” Walden muses. “But in reality, what’s down can be grounding and stabiliz-ing. Pay attention to the roots of your plans. Addressing seemingly mundane details to dot the i’s and cross the t’s will help ensure your plans grow and flower.”

It’s time to get organized

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insight

You might assume that an encounter with a sexy mystery man signals some deep roman-tic yearning, but these dreams are really about empowering you. “Every person in your dream world reflects an aspect of your own personality,” explains dream psycholo-gist Michael Lennox, Ph.D. “Connecting with someone in a romantic way can point to a quality you’d like to bring out in yourself.”

Walden agrees: “Ask yourself, What does this person represent to me? Are they strong? Are they funny? Are they confident? Are they creative? Are they nerdy or scientific or a little bit wild?” Pinpointing the person’s attractive traits can help you establish goals for personal growth. For instance, maybe you’d like to work on becoming cooler under pressure like your dreamy fantasy fighter pilot. Or perhaps you want to start living life a little more spon-taneously like the make-believe surfer you smooched on the beach.

It’s time to let yourself shine

It’s time to seek wisdomA DEARLY DEPARTED

Whether you’re reuniting over tea with a beloved grandmother who passed or silently embracing a close friend who was taken before her time, visitation dreams from departed loved ones can be eerie and life-like. This is a sign that you’re not just miss-ing those people—as you do every day—but needing them for a particular purpose. “You may be facing some life experience that they would be particularly suited to help you with,” Lennox notes. Perhaps you’re grappling with a family conflict that your grandmother would know just how to handle. Or maybe you’ve been met with a personal challenge your gutsy friend would tackle with aplomb—if only she were here. “This dream is an opportunity to reflect on the qualities of the departed and find them in yourself,” Lennox says. And even as you mourn lost friends and family, never forget: You’re wiser and more capable just for having known and loved them.