Dreams are a Source for Creative Ideas

Creativity does not happen in vacuum. It is usually fostered by something that’s already there and already swimming around in your head. That is why dreams are so important. Dreams allow us to tap into those ideas. In our waking hours, we are focused on the thoughts of the conscious mind. In our dreams, our subconscious mind takes over. We explore our thoughts without judgment or reservation, with reckless abandon.


Dreams tap into the mind's wonderful ability to imagine, to remember, to evaluate, and to synthesize. They mimic a significant stage in creativity: you guessed it, brainstorming! When you deprive yourself of sleep, you deprive yourself of the necessary dream time needed to recharge your batteries and be inspired. Dreams have been the spark of inspiration for many talented and creative individuals from many professions. Artists, philosophers, scientists and inventors have all given credit to dreams for their inspiration.


Creative genius Edgar Allen Poe has attributed much of his creative prowess to dreams. They inspired the mood and themes of his stories. Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology once wrote, "All my works, all my creative activity, has come from those initial fantasies and dreams which began in 1912, almost fifty years ago. Everything that I accomplished in later life was already contained in them, although at first only in the form of emotions and images." Even musical artist, Billy Joel, reports he experiences his music in his dreams before he makes it a reality.


Everyone dreams. Those that say they do not simply do not remember their dreams. Since dreams can be a great source of inspiration, make the most out of them. As soon as you wake up from a wonderful dream, write it down. Keep a writing pad or a dream journal beside your bed for accessibility. This will help you remember all of the fabulous details. Write down key points that answer the five Ws and one H. Who was there? What were you doing? How did you do it? This can also be a great way of finding out what it is you really want out of life. Try sketching your dreams out with your own pictures. Think about how the story would continue. Remember creativity is merging our information and experiences in new and different ways.


One important way to maximize dream time is to get enough sleep every night. Adults need an average of 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night. While teenagers may need to sleep a little longer to truly be at their best. When you try to remember your dreams after a restful night’s sleep, there are some tips to make the recall easier. First, try remembering the events of the dream backwards. If you get stumped, simply ask yourself, “What activity was I engaged in before that?” If you notice recurring events that could not possibly happen in real life, do not ignore them. Keep track of them, as they are your proof that you are dreaming. As you boost your creativity, these dream signs may come in handy. Could you develop a story or song around them? Aha! Dreams have presented yet another way to use your creative genius.


Dreams are the brains way of exercising our creativity. Dreams take our library of thoughts, experiences, and knowledge and create an exciting experience for everyone. Everyone has the power to dream and be creative! Many popular artists and creative geniuses have said that they were inspired by their dreams. Keep a dream journal so you can record your dreams. Look for patterns and recurring things. Get the right amount of sleep, and be open to your dreams recklessly exploring your subconscious thoughts. No matter what you do, feel free to dream. Worst case scenario is you don't become inspired and you are simply watching a movie. Relax and enjoy the film you create!