Written by: Pranisha Dhital - 24054, Grade XII
Posted on: 16 February, 2024
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about the word dream is, "Why do we dream?" There has been a lot of research conducted to determine why we dream, but the study of dreams is a dynamic issue, and the research continues to improve our understanding of this interesting aspect of the human experience.
Sometimes I think that human beings only dream, or that other living beings also dream. And the answer to that question is that scientific research has said that some mammals dream like humans who have the same sleeping pattern like us and those who have a complex brain. Dreams are like magical stories that happen in our minds when we sleep. People have always been curious about them because they are mysterious and interesting. In this essay, I will talk about dreams, why we dream, what scientists say about them, and what they mean to different people.
Other things that come to mind when I think of a dream or dreaming are that sometimes we remember the dream that we dreamed about while we were sleeping, and sometimes I think that maybe it's giving some important message or hint that may be good or bad for the real world. Don’t you think so?
Sometimes I feel like I have experienced something previously, and I analyze the situation and come to the conclusion that I experienced the same thing in my dream. Such dreams are "precognitive dreaming." At first, I thought that it must be deja vu, but it was not. Now, what is a dream? A dream is a collection of pictures, emotions, thoughts, and experiences that occur unconsciously in the mind during various phases of sleep. Dreams may be vivid and intense experiences that feel genuine, despite the fact that they are created by the brain and do not take place in the actual world.
I believe we do not dream every day when we are sleeping. At such moments, our brain rests well; yet, some days we dream while sleeping, indicating that our brain has not rested properly. How many times can you relate that the day we dream of something, the next morning, after sleeping for a longer time than usual, we feel tired as our brain has not gotten any rest?
Scientists have found that dreams usually happen when we are in the deep part of our sleep, called REM sleep. They think that dreams are our brain's way of organizing memories and feelings. While we still don't know exactly why we dream, scientists are working hard to understand it better. Some smart people who study the mind, called psychologists, have different ideas about dreams. Some think that dreams show what we really want or what we think deep inside. Others believe that dreams can help us solve problems or learn more about ourselves. It's like our mind is talking to us through dreams.
In different parts of the world, people have their own ideas about dreams. Some cultures believe that dreams are messages from gods or spirits. Ancient civilizations thought dreams had special meanings, like predicting the future. People's beliefs about dreams are shaped by where they come from and what they grew up learning.
Have you ever been in a dream and realized you were dreaming? That's called lucid dreaming! It's like being the director of your own dream movie. Some people can even control what happens in their dreams. This is a new and exciting area that scientists and dream enthusiasts are exploring to understand how it works and how it can be useful.
Dreams, the nightly blockbuster movies of our minds, remain a puzzling yet entertaining feature of our sleep. Scientists are the backstage crew, psychologists are the detectives, and cultures worldwide are the audience, each with their own critique. And then there are the lucid dreamers, rewriting the script with a touch of personal humor. In this dreamy circus, whether you're the star or just a spectator, may your dreams be as amusing as a cosmic comedy show. Sleep tight and dream light!
