Walking on the Wild Side

This time of year when we are transitioning from winter to spring, can be a chaotic time – and not just weather-wise!  As a reflection of the changing environment, our dreams may also become more chaotic, as we attempt to sort out where we wish to head next in our lives and businesses.  Springtime is traditionally a time of new beginnings and new life – but can also represent a time of chaos, which can turn up in our dreams.

According to recent neuroscientific research, the dream state is an extremely creative brain state, and a plethora of scientific discoveries and business solutions (like Google) is the result of recalled dreams. This creative energy can be harnessed to make better decisions, whether to create the next Google or choosing the best life partner for ourselves.

However, every day thousands of highly innovative business solutions and ideas are lost at workplaces across the globe because people have trouble recalling their nocturnal dreams.

Increased personal insight, higher self-esteem, and better relations with others are additional outcomes of tuning in on our unconscious intelligence, as indicated by recent dream research.

When we face times of chaos in our lives, whether personally or professionally, we are confused, vulnerable and blinded by the fear of losing control. In the cognitive confusion created by the absence of some absolute truth and certainty, we have to become alchemists of our own solutions. Instead of reacting from a place of fear, we must flip the script in order to recognize and identify opportunities and seize the right moment for a leap of faith.

I know this was true for me during the runup to the pandemic – as our world was forced to shrink and fold in on itself – I began to notice and dream about the behavior patterns of the people who were actually thriving during the pandemic. Those observations and musings eventually became a course in resilience. The chaos created by the pandemic became the catalyst for creating something new.

One of the reasons we dream is to make sense of what happens to us during the day. Even the worst dreams we have are still plot-driven, still make some sort of emotional sense, and still clean some of the psychological litter box. They allow us to function better in our waking lives because they clear out emotional, spiritual and intellectual waste

As a huge part of what we do happens unconsciously, paying attention to the content of our dreams can help us understand deeply unconscious drivers. For example, an unconscious driver for many is a deep fear of not being good enough, combined with a deep fear of standing out. Leaders who have confronted this fear through working with their dreams became more courageous, inclusive and compassionate leaders.

Doing the inner work, i.e. knowing who we are and being firmly anchored in our values, not only helps us be true to ourselves– it becomes imperative in a time of chaos. To make better decisions, greater self-awareness and consciously opening our heart and soul to other avenues of thinking is a must.

Chaos is perceived by some to be a negative attribute. However, it also has positive characteristics. Chaos can be seen as creating order out of disorder, as well as seeing new and unforeseen opportunities for success – taking paths that perhaps would otherwise would not have been traveled if a more traditional approach was followed. 

By being curious about the multiple sides and layers of a situation, acknowledging our emotions and connecting to our dreams and aspirations – as well as our hopes and fears – we can overcome entrenched beliefs and find meaningful solutions to crises.

Got a dream that leaves you sleepless or scratching your head? Get some tips to help you find the “gold in the gobbledygook” of your dreams! Get a few quick tips here

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