Using your dreams as a creative tool
There is still a lot of speculation about the reason for dreaming. Are your dreams really nothing more than your brain clearing out the clutter of the day? Or can you use them as a learning tool and to motivate you? While we may not yet know what the purpose of dreaming is, it’s still something that we can use to our advantage – you just have to be willing to use this creative tool. Dreams may appear silly and meaningless, but they can actually be made to work for you.
The way in which many people make use of their otherwise “disposable” dreams (how many people actually remember them much beyond waking up?) is by keeping a dream diary. It’s important to write down what you remember as soon as you wake up. This dream diary can serve two purposes. One, it can be a way of clearing out your mind and emptying it of all your worries. You’ve dreamed about things that concern you, now forget about it and move on. Or you can use your dream diary for a more interesting purpose – creativity and generating ideas.
The subconscious is incredibly powerful and it’s believed that we only use a small fraction of our brain power. So why not see if you can put more of your brain to work on your behalf? Perhaps you have a problem that you don’t know how to resolve, or you’re having trouble coming up with ideas for your small business. This is where your dream diary can be very useful. It’s unlikely that you’ll find a money-making marvel there that will earn you a fortune – but you could well read something in your diary that triggers off ideas for designs or ways to promote your business.
So every morning, as soon as you wake up, dedicate a short time to writing down what you remember of your dreams. Nothing is too silly or random; just jot it all down and then put it aside. Don’t try to puzzle out what your dream meant; you can over-think it and get nowhere. Instead, go back to your diary at a later date and flick through it. See what comes up in your mind when you look at it. Your notes on your dreams could trigger off all kinds of interesting ideas – let your subconscious work for you, rather than wasting your waking hours frantically trying to come up with the creative inspiration that you need.
If you are a writer, a dream diary can be just what you need to get through a creative block. Every writer knows the frustrating feeling of trying to force the words out when they just won’t come! So turn to your dream diary when you’re stuck for words. You’ll see all kinds of directions that your writing could take, whether you’re a novelist, journalist or blogger. You’ll find a rich source of inspiration inside – there’ll be no more writer’s block once you open your dream diary!
