The Choices We Make in Dreams
Have you ever dreamed that you did something you would never dare to do in real life?
You faced someone you were afraid of. You walked away from a situation that was hurting you. Maybe you even said something you had kept inside for years.
Then you woke up and wondered:
Why was I brave in my dream when I am not brave enough in real life?
When we are awake, we think about consequences. We worry about losing people, disappointing others, making the wrong choice, or dealing with what comes next.
In dreams, however, things can feel very different.
This does not necessarily mean that the dream is telling us what we should do. Instead, the action may reveal a feeling that we have been keeping inside.
For example, walking away might not mean that you truly want to leave someone. It could simply mean that you need space.
Likewise, shouting at someone might not mean that you want to hurt them. Perhaps you have simply wanted to be heard for a long time.
In this way, some dreams give us a chance to notice feelings that we rarely allow ourselves to express when we are awake.
They may also make us ask questions we have been avoiding.
Am I really happy with where I am?
Have I become so used to giving in that I no longer know what I want?
Of course, we should not make important decisions simply because of a dream. Still, we can pay attention to the feeling it leaves behind.
What could I do in my dream that I cannot seem to do in real life?
Sometimes, the question matters more than the dream itself.