You’ve probably heard of dream symbols before. You know, the idea that a specific image in your dream could represent something else entirely. For example, a white picket fence might symbolize domestic bliss or, depending on what’s going on, feeling trapped.
But what about when you dream of things that are completely literal? Things that could actually happen in your everyday life? For instance, what if you dream about the white picket fence that you pass every day on the way to work, and in the dream, you are heading to work?
These are called literal dreams. Do you have a lot of dreams that simply reflect your waking life?
Why Do People Have Literal Dreams?
Literal dreams are defined as dreams where you dream of things that could actually happen in your real life. This includes dreaming of things like waking up, having breakfast, driving to work, working, coming home, having dinner, watching TV, having a conversation with your spouse, and going to bed.
Literal dreams do not contain images, people, or situations that would not be in your real life.
So why do some people have literal dreams? Are they incapable of having dreams where reality is warped and things that couldn’t possibly happen in their waking life happen?
Not necessarily.
It could be that literal dreams are actually suggestive of something else entirely. So while the content of the dream may be mundane, it could be trying to tell you something important about your waking life.
For instance, if you dream of going to work and you feel miserable and tired, it could just be your subconscious trying to drill home the message – you hate your work and you should get a new job!
Another theory for literal dreams suggests that they are simply a by-product of an overactive or anxious mind.
When our minds are racing with thoughts during the day, our thoughts might carry over into our dreams at night. So if you can’t stop thinking about an upcoming project at work, you might dream about the work you’ve done on that project at night.
What Do Literal Dreams Mean?
Like we said before, literal dreams might actually be symbolic of something else going on in your life.
For example, if you dream of driving to work and you are late, it could symbolize feelings of anxiety or insecurity in your job.
Or if you dream of having dinner with your family but the conversation is stilted and awkward, it could be a sign that you’re feeling disconnected from your loved ones.
Literal dreams might also be how your subconscious mind is choosing to process and make sense of the events of your day.
For instance, if you have a lot on your mind and you can’t seem to focus, dreaming about doing mundane tasks could be your brain’s way of trying to organize and process all that information.
Look For The Hidden Meaning In Your Literal Dreams
Literal dreams might not always be symbolic of something else, but they can often tell us a lot about our current emotional state.
If you find that you’re having a lot of literal dreams, pay attention to how you’re feeling when you wake up. Are you anxious, stressed, angry, or sad?
Chances are, your literal dreams are just a reflection of what’s going on in your life. And while they might not be as exciting or interesting as other types of dreams, they can still give us valuable insights into our lives.
