Remembering Dreams: Learning How to Recall

Have you ever had a dream that was very emotionally charged, or seemed to mean so much to you and your life when you had it, but you could not quite recall the dream? It seems so important that you remember this dream, that you spend half the day trying to conjure it back up to no avail. Sometimes those dreams can seem incredibly elusive.

If you want to remember those dreams you have at night, probably the first thing to do is tell yourself you want to. The power of words can be surprising. We don’t realize how much we influence what we do in life just by what we tell ourselves, and what we begin to believe about ourselves and situations. The same holds for things we want to remember. Tell yourself each day that you want to remember your dreams, and really believe what you say.

The next thing you must do to help you remember your dreams is to relax. Try not to get wound up before going to bed, and don’t eat or drink anything loaded with sugar and/or caffeine. Think about your life and where it is going, or where you would like for it to go. Imagine how you would like for things to be. If you have had a major change in your life such as a career change or family move, for better or worse, think of that in a positive way. Don’t stress yourself; relax and allow yourself to reflect and imagine.

Now, begin to keep a dream journal. This is just writing down what you dream each night. Get a journal or spiral notebook to keep beside your bed that is dedicated to dream journaling. Or you may want to simply have a pad of paper there. Whatever you use, you need it handy and ready to jot down what you remember when you wake up.

If you wake in the middle of the night after having a dream, write this dream down, too.  Each time you dream, write it down, and make it a habit to do so before getting out of the bed. If the actual images elude you, write down the emotions you felt when you dreamed, if you can. This may trigger the images in your dreams.

Your writing does not have to be anything fancy or eloquent. Just jot down what you remember upon awakening. During the day, if bits of the dreams come back to your recollection, write them down as soon as you can, so you don’t forget. Even if you can only recall bits and pieces, it is a start, and many times will trigger other images.

Continue to practice these suggestions. Before you know it you are remembering your dreams easier and more vividly. Perhaps then you can have some fun interpreting them, and gaining some insight into your path in life!