Dreams are illustrations from the book your soul is writing about you. - Marsha Norman
We all dream several dreams a night, and it's been suggested that we each have 100,000 dreams over the course of our lives. So you might be wondering why you can't remember a single one. Medications, alcohol, too little sleep, and anxiety about the content of our dreams can all block dream recall.
We're most likely to remember the dreams closest to awakening, but with a little effort, you can boost your dream recall. In fact, the more attention you pay to your dreams, by thinking about them, writing them down, working with them, the more likely you are to remember them. Keeping a notepad and a pen beside your bed and recording your dreams immediately on waking is one of the best ways to help your dream recall.
Some dreams fade quickly from memory, so it is crucial you capture them as soon as you can. Immediately on waking, write down your dream or dreams - even if this is in the middle of the night; don't brush your teeth first or leave it until your alarm clock goes off. If you do that, you'll probably forget all about it and will lose a valuable dream. If you record your dreams in words, you create permanent reminders that you can use to help you figure out what they are trying to tell you.
Later in the day, transfer the information to a dream diary, specifically set aside for your dreams. In this diary include: the date of your dream, any people involved, the moods and feelings expressed, prominent colors, numbers, or shapes, the problems and conflicts encountered, prominent symbols or stories, information about the dream landscape, whether it was past, present, or future, and, finally, how the dream ended.
With practice, you will soon get the hang of remembering and writing down your dreams. Use this encyclopedia to help you unlock the meaning of your dream themes and symbols, but never forget that the best book you will ever read about dreams is the one you write yourself: your dream journal.
Programming Your Mind for Dream Recall
Some dreams are so vivid you can't forget them, but many are so fleeting they can vanish without a trace. One way to make sure you remember them is to talk to yourself in a positive way. Before going to sleep, tell yourself that you will remember your dreams on waking. Try this visualization technique.
When you feel sleepy, turn off the lights and settle down in your favorite sleeping position. In a relaxed way, think about your dreams. Breathe in for a count of five, and out for a count of ten. Repeat this, and then breathe normally. Now imagine you have just woken in the morning and, as you slowly move back into consciousness, you reach for your pen and write down your dream. Bring your attention to the present again and feel comfortable, warm, and sleepy. Tell yourself that in the morning you will remember your dreams.
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