How do we start to analyse our dreams?

Remembering dreams is a matter of patience and practice. Have a paper and pencil handy. It is essential to write down the dream as soon as you wake up. Dreams have an uncanny way of refusing capture and are as ephemeral as any butterfly. The catching itself becomes a fun game!

And what are the benefits of doing this?

The great thing about dreams is they lead us into a nocturnal landscape where anything and everything is possible. We are not responsible for our dreams and they allow us to escape from the limitations of our daily responsibilities and, like Peter Pan, we may even learn to fly. They have no price tag and remind us that there are many kinds of ‘reality’. Also, if you can develop the discipline to write down your dreams, you are enhancing your writing skills. You don’t have to be a professional author to dream, but writing is proven to improve mental health.

Are there any ways we can get this wrong?

The only pitfall I can think of is that sometimes our dreams tell us things we didn’t want to know. They can throw up all sorts of challenges, but they also help us make better sense of our emotional lives. The key is to be prepared when dream-catching – you may have to explore darkness and unfinished business.

One Good Thing: why you should start writing down your dreams