There are times I wished I could remember all my nightly journeys in the inner worlds. Unfortunately, it's not so. Most times after waking up I know and feel that I had just come back from important adventures in my dreams, but trying to recall the adventure leaves me frustrated each time.
I know many people, like me, are experiencing this also.
This is very common, partly because the mind thinks it's trying to protect us from harm. So most dreams are scrambled by a tool of the mind called the dream censor. It's the function of the dream censor to protect us from most nightmares so that we can remain balanced in the awakened state. However the censor cannot tell whether a dream is helpful or harmful.
One simple way to remember your dreams is to keep a dream journal.
A dream journal is a notebook, diary, or digital note where you record your dreams after waking up. You can write down the whole dream or simply record the parts you remember.
But why should you keep a dream journal?
There are several benefits of keeping a dream journal.
Here I'm going to give some anecdotes of the importance of keeping a dream journal. The first would be my personal story.
I had a dream in very familiar settings. The setting was on a road I commute daily. In the dream I boarded a tricycle as I headed to the church. For some reason the rider was unusually quiet and refused to engage me in a discussion. As I got to my destination, I paid the required fare and was about to leave. The Tricycle rider then spoke for the first time. He said these words to me and zoomed off. He said "after the rain comes the sun shines". I felt this was strange when I woke up from the dream and I decided to write it down in my journal for future reference.
At this time in my outer life things were fairly okay, as doors of opportunities were shutting down. And I started struggling to keep up with daily survival. Things got worse. However, one day as I was reviewing my dream journal I came across the recorded dream and the date I wrote it down. I realized that dream came to forewarn me of a pending reversal of my fortune. The hardship which I now embraced as purification lasted for a long while. But eventually the sun began to shine again in my life. Doors began to open and opportunities came in droves.
The second story was about an African nurse who was contracted to work in a hospital in Qatar - the middle east. After working for two years she started having recurring dreams. Each time she would record them in her journal. One day as she was reviewing the journal, the meaning of the recurring dreams suddenly jumped at her. She would soon be sacked and sent home to Ghana. This realization helped her begin to make moves to avert her sack. She sought a meeting with the regional director of the area who confirmed her impending termination. After the meeting the director agreed to transfer her to a remote outer station where there was a need for her expertise.
As you have seen from the stories, a dream journal can help you remember your dreams, notice repeated patterns, think about your emotions, and keep a personal record of your experiences.
Let's now pursue 4 important reasons why keeping a dream journal can be useful.
Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of keeping a dream journal is that it helps you remember your dreams.
Many persons like me would not remember their dreams shortly after waking up. You might remember a dream clearly when you first open your eyes, but after checking your phone, getting out of bed, or starting your daily activities, the memory may become scrambled and difficult to recall.
Writing your dream down as soon as you wake up can help bypass the dream censor.
You do not have to write a long epistle. Even a few sentences can be enough.
For example:
You can also record small details such as a person's name, a place, an object, a color, or a feeling.
The more often you record your dreams, the easier it may become to pay attention to them and remember them.
This is the reason, it is a good idea to keep your dream journal and a touch light beside your bed. When you wake up, write down what you remember before starting your day.
Another important benefit of keeping a dream journal is that it allows you to notice patterns in your dreams.
Take the case of the African nurse. She noticed a pattern in a dream and because she recorded them down over several weeks or months, she noticed that certain people, places, objects, or situations appear more than once.
You may also notice that certain dreams happen during particular periods of your life.
For example, you might have more stressful dreams when you are worried about school, work, money, relationships, or an important decision.
A dream journal allows you to look back at your previous dreams and compare them.
You can record simple information such as:
This can help you understand your personal dream patterns.
However, it is important to remember that a repeated dream does not automatically have one specific meaning. Dreams can be influenced by many things, including memories, emotions, daily experiences, and things we think about before going to sleep.
Your dream journal is best used as a tool for observation and personal reflection.
Dreams can sometimes be connected to the emotions we experience in everyday life.
During the day, we are often busy. We may have school, work, family responsibilities, relationships, and other things to think about. Because of this, we may not always have time to stop and think about how we feel.
Writing about your dreams gives you an opportunity to slow down and reflect.
For example, imagine that you repeatedly dream about being unable to reach an important destination.
Instead of immediately deciding that the dream is predicting something, you could ask yourself:
"Is there something in my life that I am worried about?"
"Do I feel like I am falling behind?"
"Am I trying to reach an important goal?"
The dream may not give you a direct answer. However, thinking about it could help you recognize feelings or concerns that you have been ignoring.
You can record your emotions alongside the dream.
For example:
Later, you might realize that you have been worried about an upcoming examination, presentation, interview, or another important event.
This is one reason a dream journal can be useful for self-reflection.
It gives you a private place to record not only what you dreamed about but also how the dream made you feel.
Another reason to keep a dream journal is that it creates a personal record that you can look back on.
Our lives change as we grow older. The things we think about, worry about, and hope for today may be completely different several years from now.
Your dreams can change too.
When you keep a dream journal for a long time, you create a collection of memories from different periods of your life.
Imagine finding a dream you wrote down five or ten years ago. Reading it might remind you of what you were doing and thinking about at that time.
You may remember an old friend, a place you lived, a difficult period, an important goal, or something you were excited about.
Your dream journal can therefore become more than a place to record dreams. It can become a personal record of your experiences and thoughts.
Dreams can also provide inspiration for creative activities.
A strange dream could become the beginning of a story. A beautiful dream might inspire a painting. An unusual character or place from a dream could give you an idea for a poem, song, video, or other creative project.
When you write your dreams down, you give yourself the opportunity to use those ideas instead of allowing them to disappear.
Starting a dream journal is simple. You do not need an expensive notebook or a special app.
Choose a notebook, diary, or note-taking app that you can use regularly.
Keep it beside your bed so it is easy to reach when you wake up.
When you wake up, stay still for a moment and try to remember your dream. Think about the people, places, events, and emotions you experienced.
Then write down what you remember.
You can use a simple format like this:
Do not worry about spelling, grammar, or writing a perfect story. Your dream journal is for you.
If you do not remember your dream, simply write, "I don't remember my dream today."
With regular practice, you may find that remembering your dreams becomes easier.
Yes. If possible, try to record your dreams every morning. However, you should not feel bad if you miss a day.
The most important thing is to make it a regular habit.
Even if you only remember a small part of a dream, write it down. Over time, these small records can help you see patterns that you might otherwise miss.
You can also add a short note about your day or your mood. This may help you compare your dreams with things happening in your waking life.
Keeping a dream journal is a simple habit that can help you pay more attention to your dreams.
The four main benefits are that it can help you remember your dreams, notice dream patterns, reflect on your feelings, and create a personal record of your experiences.
You do not need special knowledge about dream interpretation to start.
All you need is a place to write and the habit of recording your dreams when you wake up.
Not every dream will have an obvious meaning, and you should not assume that every dream is a prediction of the future. But recording your dreams gives you an opportunity to explore them and learn more about your own thoughts and experiences.
So, the next time you wake up from a strange, exciting, or memorable dream, don't let it disappear.
Write it down.
Your dream journal may become one of the most interesting records you ever keep.
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