Dreams...What Do They Mean?

Dreams. Not in the sense of our ambitions or the goals we work hard to achieve, or THAT sort of dream, but the dreams we recurrently have at night when we can’t control what goes through our minds.

I’m sure we’ve all been there before, when we’ve had that horrible dream where you are running as fast as you can but going nowhere. You feel as though you’re running through treacle as you watch all those people you never thought would beat you, overtake you one by one. Your legs no longer work properly, and you can’t seem to catch your breath.

It’s a horrible dream, and one I had earlier this week. You wake up feeling anxious and worried, questioning whether you know how to run. So, what does it actually mean? What is this dream saying about my sub conscious thoughts?

When researching ‘dreams about running’ I found out some very interesting information about that particular dream. The most common explanation seemed to be that it signifies a lack of self-esteem and self-confidence. That you are working hard to achieve something but feel as though you are being pushed against. It suggests the presence of negativity towards your own ability.

​So, this got me thinking. Why am I having this dream? I hadn’t been feeling particularly negative and had been feeling happy with my situation and everything I am working towards, both running and university wise. But, maybe there was something that seemed to be getting me down and making me feel a lack of confidence in myself.

Before long, I realised what it was. It was social media. I had found myself pointlessly scrolling through instagram, focusing on what other people had been doing and what they had been achieving, that I had caused myself to think negatively about my own ability.

The solution was simple. I deleted my instagram for a few days, and I loved not having it. I spent no time pointlessly looking at what other people were doing, and I focused on spending more time doing what I actually find relaxing, reading and writing.

A few days was all it took, and I felt so much better for that break away from the constant reminder of other people’s lives and their progression. Ultimately, we are all different and we all progress at different rates. I shouldn’t do things that make me lack belief in my own ability, but instead be proud of the progress I am making and be happy with where I am. There is nothing beneficial about wishing to be where others are. Our own happiness and confidence is what is most important and sometimes it takes your subconscious to remind you to take a break and be proud of the person you are.