We dream because we need to. Dreams are part of our physiological and psychological makeup and are necessary to our mental and physical well-being. Humans cannot replenish their bodies or maintain their mental faculties without reaching the magical state of rapid eye movement (R.E.M.) sleep—the level that allows us to dream.
Dreaming
signals the proper release of chemicals and hormones our bodies need. If sleep weren’t essential for us, we would have evolved beyond the need to dream long ago.
Dreams are a vehicle to help us align our emotional selves. We are able to act out unpleasant experiences, find the reasons for them, and soften their affects. Dreams also help us to problem-solve. We’ve all heard the phrase, “I need to sleep on it.”
Somehow, when our minds relax to sleep and dream, we wake
with solutions we were unable to imagine without the benefit of sleep. That is why it is a good idea to keep a pen and paper by your bed, so you can record solutions before they are forgotten.
Paul McCartney came up with the words to the Beatles hit song Yesterday while in a dream state. Albert Einstein captured the theory of relativity while in a dream state. The inspiration behind the creation of the sewing machine came from a dream. So the dream state is a way to solve
problems, as well as a schoolroom for great ideas, innovations, and inspiration.
Discover 4 tips to interpreting dreams here!