Can we control our dreams?

 

A interesting aspect of the human experience is dreaming. Dreams are a normal component of sleep and are regarded to be a method for the brain to absorb memories, consolidate them, and organize and solve issues. But are our dreams fully out of our control, or can we control what occurs in them?

The quick response is, not really. Since our subconscious mostly determines what we dream about, it is challenging for us to have any influence on our dreams. But there are methods and exercises that might help us mold our dreams in certain ways.

We may be able to control our dreams to some extent, according to some data. The act of controlling one's dream environment and experience while being conscious that one is dreaming is known as lucid dreaming. Keep a dream journal and practice reality checks (such trying to read small text or pushing your finger through your palm) throughout the day to raise awareness of the dream state. These are just a few ways to induce lucid dreaming.

Making little adjustments to the course of your dreams, for instance, can be done by keeping a dream journal. You may start to develop deeper understanding of the patterns and themes of your dreams by writing down your dreams, pondering on them, and documenting them once you wake up. By doing this, you can learn to pay closer attention to and be more aware of your dreams.

Some lucid dreamers claim to have the ability to fly, modify the environment, or even command the behavior of other dream characters. Even while these experiences could seem quite vivid, it's crucial to keep in mind that they are still only dreams and have no bearing on the outside world.

Though there is still a lot we don't understand about the science of lucid dreaming and how it functions, it is assumed to be connected to an increase in activity in specific brain regions that are important for self-awareness and judgment.

It's important to keep in mind that, despite the fact that some people may be able to exert some degree of influence over their dreams, this is not always achievable. The unconscious mind produces dreams, which are impacted by a variety of things, including our ideas, emotions, and prior encounters.

In conclusion, while practicing lucid dreaming may allow us to have some degree of control over our dreams, it is not always feasible to have total control over them. Dreams are a complicated and enigmatic aspect of the sleep cycle that are supposed to perform crucial brain processes.

Publish date: 24 December 2022

References:

• https://chat.openai.com/chat
• https://midjourney.com/
• https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-control-dreams/
• https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02618/full
• https://www.nature.com/articles/nn.3727