Cindy’s dream about a big wave that washed her off the beach seemed discouraging. However, once she identified the situation causing that feeling, her dream yielded a solution: It was her husband and his problem-solving approach.
Her husband appeared in the dream, and his appearance was not random. The characters who inhabit a dream may embody the traits necessary for responding effectively to a given situation.
dream
I was sunbathing at a beach, and a big wave came and washed off everything. I tried to walk to the hotel to change but couldn’t find the hotel. I returned to the beach and joined my husband after the long walk. I arrived soaking wet and tired.
The Discussion
I started by saying, “Our dreams reflect our daytime thoughts, so let’s look for a situation that might have prompted this dream. Your dream seems to tell a story about doing something that got washed up, perhaps literally. You also seem to have trouble finding or returning to a place where you can help yourself.
“Have you recently tried something that didn’t work or felt washed up? Is there a situation where you feel like you can’t find your way back?”
Cindy connected. “I studied geology at university and worked for almost seven years in a civil, geotechnical consulting company. My job has been more on the administration side for the last few years. It doesn’t challenge my knowledge.
“I reached out to my boss and asked him to please move me to join the environmental group so that I can apply my scientific expertise in my job. He didn’t get back to me even when I followed up.
“Then I talked to my husband, and he encouraged me to study for a new certificate at college to change my field of work. I am thinking of starting in September.”
I offered, “Your dream is an excellent reflection of your situation! First, you’re sunbathing at a place where you thought you would stay for a while, but now your situation seems to be changing.”
Cindy added, “Yes, and the wave washing off all the studying and work I’ve done!”
I asked, “How do you feel about your husband’s idea to return to school? In the dream, you get lost trying to find your way back.”
“I am not sure if it is the right decision, but I worry all the time as my salary is meager when you compare it to the job I do.”
I asked, “Can you describe your husband in a few words? What kind of person is he?
Cindy responded, “He is a very organized, determined, and kind-hearted person. He plans for every single thing he wants to do, taking notes and checking them off after they’re done. He doesn’t take many risks and is more on the conservative side.
“He’s very outgoing, and I can’t call him lazy, although he is not very familiar with house chores and not interested! He’ll help if I ask him, though. The only negative thing about my husband is that he’s not as optimistic as I am and always thinks of the worst-case scenario.”
“In the dream, you ‘go back to your husband.’ Could you be telling yourself to move towards his operating style in resolving your situation?
Cindy confirmed my suspicion. “Yes, I could! I ask him for his advice in many areas of my life and find myself leaning towards how he gets things done.
What We Can Learn
I often marvel at the people and personality traits appearing in our dreams and how precisely they project the qualities we need to succeed in the situations we face. Going back to school is a conservative, steady road to success, which can be most easily accomplished by responding to how Cindy described her husband to her.
She’ll want to make a plan and follow through. By staying organized, determined, and keeping on track with the details, Cindy will be able to succeed in school and apply that success to a career move. Her husband de ella has all the personality traits to help her move forward.
Finally, I offered, “You say you are an optimist. You may want to employ that aspect of yourself as you travel this road.”