# Dreams: What are they good for?

Category: Let's talk

## Post 1 by Albanac (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 7:48:17

HI guys,
Today, well a few minutes ago to be exact, I was thinking about dreams. Not the kind of dreams you have when you're asleep, I mean more the ones that go with hope. An ideal situation we see ourselves in that possibly but very probably won't, come true. The question I was wondering is do they serve any positive purpose? I.E What are they good for. There's a branch of philosophy that deals with this question, or mode of questioning, but I'm buggered if I can remember what it is now. Anyway whatever it's called let's do some basic version of it and see where we end up.
In doing the social sciences course I'm doing right now I've learned one method of setting such things out by firstly defining what it is I'm talking about. Well I sort of did that last paragraph but let's see if we can elaborate on that definition at all. dream, according to wordweb (my dictionary of choice because it's free and here), is defined as a cherished desire, Imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake, A fantastic but vain hope (from fantasies induced by the opium pipe), A state of mind characterized by abstraction and release from reality. Hmm, quite a lot to go on here, although we can rule out opium, I don't even smoke cigarettes any more. It does explain where the term "pipe dream" came from though. A cherished desire: well none but those who, either by apathy or a lack of wanting or needing to know what's outside their little bubble, haven't wanted something at one point in their lives. So it would seem that if we desire things we'd desire them in some sort of hierarchy, (Do you think of a bar of chocolate or a favourite meal as you do winning the lottery?), the most important of these perhaps being that cherished desire. Imaginative thoughts indulged in while awake: It would perhaps follow that, if we have this cherished desire we'd think about it, (seeing ourselves driving that dream car, going on that dream holiday, and so on), a human process that advertisements use to great effect that L. Althusser called interpillation. A state of mind characterized by abstraction and release from reality: Well following on from our idea of interpellation, it is, at the point in time when we see ourselves owning that car, on that holiday etc, not reality, (we haven't made the purchase yet), so it stands to reason that everything we think of concerning that dream or desire is a state of mind characterized by taking ourselves out of the here and now into some point in the future when we have achieved said desire.
Fantastic, that's one theory as to why, and to some basic extent how, we do it. Now can it be said to have any specific purpose or more accurately usefulness? And so it's over to you. What do you think? Is there any use in having these kinds of dreams and desires? If so, what purpose do they serve? If not, why not?
Have fun with this one folks.
Cheers,
Simon

## Post 2 by Sutty_P (scratching my ass) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 8:45:18

sorry simon, i would love to reply to that but that was to much information for my tiny brummy brain to comprehend, lol, sounded interesting anyway.
paul

## Post 3 by Albanac (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 8:46:34

Hahaha, yeah it was a bit verbose, sorry about that lol. Glad you found it interesting though mate.

## Post 4 by Mumbledore (... procrastinating again. i meant to write this days ago.) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 8:56:40

interesting question simon. i think it is good to have these kinds of hopes and dreams. it gives people something to work for. well, not everyone. but if you are motivated to work hard, so you can realise these kinds of dreams, say being rich and being able to afford that dream holidy or dream car. then it can't be a bad thing right? ... i dunno, maybe i've just completely misunderstood the question. lmao.

## Post 5 by Albanac (I'm going for the prolific poster awards!) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 8:59:45

No no, not at all Dan. You understood the question perfectly. That works though, insofaras your dream is attainable. Seeing the end goal is definitely a good thing then, if you are able to work toward that end goal and eventually get there. But what about when the dream is not attainable? Do you think that it is still good to have that dream? And if so, why? If not, why not?

## Post 6 by cumbiambera2005 (i just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 9:12:33

Well, I think a dream is a good thing, to a certain extent, as it gives you, just like stated previously, something to hope for. It can serve as a motivation, and even if it can't be attainable in its exact form, it kind of gives you an idea of what you want in life, your goals, etc.
But I also believe that if a dream is way out of your reach, it may be a source of disappointment or depression, or may even become an invain obsession. I think it's a good thing to have goals that are inspired by dreams such as this, but if it gets to a point when the dream is so impossible, yet you want it so bad, it could even begin to affect your well-being. Now this, I say from experience, but my brain is fried right now so who knows if what I'm saying's valid, lol!
But I do have another question which is similar to tis:
Ok, so the average person is able to see things, and get to know them, and become inspired, and therefore start to form hopes and dreams. But what if a person appears not to have a dream? What does it mean if someone has no goals or wishes? Could this simply be a matter of the person not having seen enough? Or is it just that they may not have had much of a chance to speek up for themself, enough to have an idea of what they want, and someone used to having decisions made for them? Or could there be somthing else? Just wondering what you guys think.

## Post 7 by Mumbledore (... procrastinating again. i meant to write this days ago.) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 9:13:24

i think it is still good to have that kind of dream. even if it is unattainable. because it gives people hope. and hope is important. even if something will never happen, it is still good to hope. and also, if people stopped having unattainable dreams, then the words "nothing is impossible" would mean nothing. i know that that's not always the case. but it makes people believe, and gives them hope. and like i already said, hope is a great thing for people to have.

## Post 8 by cumbiambera2005 (i just keep on posting!) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 9:16:09

Wow! Apparently we posted at the same time! lol apparently I can type!
But is it unhealthy not to have any kind of hope? To not have a clue what you want? Is that even possible?

## Post 9 by Eponine (If you find a rare Gem, hold it tightly!) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 9:59:02

Okay, here's my theory on dreams. The waking ones anyhow. In my oppinion, dreams are quite helthy, as many others have stated already, because they give us hope, and perpose, a goal to strive for. On that same line, we must diffrentiate between realistic dreams, and the far fetch ones, such as winning the lottery, or making the big time in what ever field we are in, such as music, sports, ETC. There is nothing wrong with dreaming, as long as our dreams don't become an unhealthy obsession, that drives us to work for them out of greed, leading us to unsavory acts, or unhealthy decitions! Dreams can be possitive, pushing us to a higher plain in life, driving us along to success, and giving us things to live for! As long as those dreams aren't something harmful, they are wonderful! Now, on another note, a lot of people dream of the past, this I found is very unproductive, because that can in some cases lead to deep depression, making us mourn the things we wish we had done differently! Through personal experience, I've learned not to look back, because it's hard to see forward, when you are always looking behind you. It really can mess up the future, and the possible potential dreams of things to come. That is my 2 cents worth. LOL.

## Post 10 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 10:57:22

I recently got the book "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrnes on CD. This theory has been around for a long time, but this book basically tells you that positive thinking and, yes, dreaming, can help you get what you want. You need to be persistent though as just saying I wish I had...isn't going to work unless you focus on it every day and believe that there is no reason why you can't have it.

## Post 11 by skpoet711 (Zone BBS is my Life) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 13:59:50

I was waiting for someone like LibraLady to bring this up before I posted.
From direct experience, the secret works, and its due to your dream manifesting.
I will be diving in to a topic that some may fine fantastic, so be foreworned and skip me if you don't wish to read a long post
A dream as described above, is one that can be manifested by absolute belief. E.g. I was strapped for cash and was not working at the time. My job had put me on call and they were talk about 2 or so months before they will be calling us back. At this time, I did not save any money and had bills to pay. My gf was vary worried on how we are going to pay our bills with barely any money. I told her that we will be ok, when there was no forecast on when I'll be working again. I used the power of attraction(dreamming), and left it up to the universe to deliver. A week later, my boss called me and asked me to come back in and after that, I was back full time. There are many examples I can give you, but it is mere stories unless you experience it yourself. I certain you have had such experiences, but never aquated
it to your desire and manifestation.
1. Have you ever needed something, knew you'd get help but not know how and receive it?
2. Was there ever a time that you dreaded a test or a tastk, believed that you'll do terribly, then done so?
3. Did you not at some time believed that you'll have a bad experience doing something or going somewhere, and indeed it turnned out to be just that?
One's reality is largely caused by one's own believe system. If you have a wish, a dream, that is one thing. But if you turnned that wish in to a belief that it will manifest somehow, some way, you will find that it will become your reality. A dream is not limited to such thoughts as:
-I wish I will win the lottery
-I want that porsh
-I would like to have that large house
-I wish that girl was mine
But it includes such thoughts as:
-Thats a really nice house, but I can never aford it
-I would like to be rich, but that can't happen to me
-Wow that guy is hot, but he will never go for me
-I always lose at this, so I will lose again
-This never turns out good for me
-I can't lose 40 pounds, thats impossible
You see, your reality is largely governed by you and your belief system. Your belief system is formed by your past experiences, parental guideance or misguidances, societal influences, friends, associates, media, and everything that you feed in to your mind either consciously or subconsciously through all your senses.
It is breaking from the norm to form your own reality that is difficult as you tend to believe what your parents, friends, tv, the next door neighbor tells you. Thus when a situation that comes up that you indeed can perform, achieve, and/or conquer, if you are programmed to believe that you can't, you won't. Acting or lack of acting on opportunities due to doubts and lack of belief defines your reality and dreams as well. Say you dream of that large house, and you get an offer for a good job but turn it down. You have just given up your chance at the large house. Or there as a project that will be paying big, but requires tedious work and a long time to finish, but the payout in the end is great and you took it on, you shall have the chance at the nice porsh if you want.
A dream is a thought process that is outside your normal negativities, but are often times phrased negativly, or without truely believing that it has much substance. This is because we live in a negative society. Take a look around you. How many fear factors are there in your life? How many times are you told don't do this, or don't do that and not given a logical answer as not to why. How many death and destruction are there in movies, music, video games, the news, etc? If you think that you are not governed in part by any of the influences you received in life and will continue to receive in life, then you are not considering connections of your past results with your past experiences and intake of information.
-How many times have you found yourself not liking something or someone simply because your friend or someone you know said that they don't?
-How many times have you chosen not to eat at some place, not watched some movie, not buy that computer, not stayed at that hotel, not used that shampoo, because of a bad review?
-How many times have you stayed away from a guy or girl because you heard that he or she is a bad person?
You see, as I have mentioned, you are governed in large by what you have experienced and what people tell you. Have you ever considered experiencing things on your own and not listen entirely on what people tell you?
-What another does not like or dislike is not necessarily what you like or dislike
-So your friend had a bad experience with some guy, that doesn't mean he treats everyone that way
-So your friend does not like the way that restaurant flavored their food, does that mean you have the exact same taste as your friend?
Experience is what truely makes up life. However, your friends can truely deprive you of things that otherwise you may have enjoyed.
-Was there not a time that you've heard a bad review of a place, tried it out, and found it to be good?
-Did you not ever taken a chance after your friend said not to talk to someone, but found that person quite decent if not pleasant?
-Did you not ever make a purchase after many have said it was terrible, and found it to be ameanable to you?
This is not negating that you will not have a bad experience as well after another person have had a bad experience, but its stating that experience along with common sense can provide you with an enjoyable lifestyle, despite what other people have been through.
If a person does not have dreams, there is no point in a variable life. Everyone would be drones. Read A Wrinkel in time, you'll know what I mean. Dreams are there to help guide you to a life that you deserve. If you doubt it, or have wishful thinking, then you will remain in your comfort zone. However, the universe is concerned with the whole picture, not just you. If you tried to use the power of attraction, your dream, to do harm un to others, harm will return to you. Try it and let me know if that is not true. It may not be in the same fashion, but it will manifest nevertheless.

## Post 12 by Sword of Sapphire (Whether you agree with my opinion or not, you're still gonna read it!) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 14:01:58

I didn't read the book, but saw the movie. I agree with it. I use that method all the time to get what I want and it works. But unfortunately, you can think bad things or things you don't want to happen into existence, too. I've also done that.
Last year, I had to write a paper on why dreams are important. Since this question has come about, I will post it here for you all to read. It's a damn good paper!
Here goes.
4/16/08
WORK TOWARD YOUR DREAM, THEN LIVE IT
Just about everyone has dreams. Not the dreams one would have when one fall's asleep, but a dream of what they want, and what, who, and where they would like to be in the future. There are many factors that play a role in the kinds of dreams one has or will have. For example, if a person was creative and liked to play different instruments, they might dream of becoming a composer for music. Having a dream in life is crucial, and working toward it is just as important.
Working towards your dreams is consequential so that you have an idea of what will become of your life. Leaving the nest is hard as it is, so having dreams makes it a little easier; it gives you an idea of what to do. But it takes some people time before they know what their dreams are. To find what your dream is, you must first figure out what your talents and abilities are, such as singing, writing, or a fluency in mathematics. Also, think of the things you like and don't like to do. A person can dream of many things: a career, living style, activities you'd like to do as an adult, such as traveling or skydiving, an instrument you'd like to play, and belongings or possessions you'd like to have, such as a certain car or dwelling. Figuring out your dream isn't hard, working toward it is the difficult part.
Having dreams gives one confidence. If one does not have dreams, they might find themselves questioning the purpose of their existence in the world. If you don't have dreams, you may feel worthless. This is why developing abilities, talents, and hobbies is important. Those are three factors that play a role in what your dreams for the future are. Having goals makes a person feel good about oneself because they know that they have something to accomplish.
Having dreams gives an individual something to set their sights on. Knowing what your dreams are gives you something to look forward to in life. Knowledge of what you want motivates you and--for some people--gives you a reason to rise from your bed each day. People work harder when they know there's a big reward in the end. The harder you work, the more realistic your dream becomes.
Working toward your dream is just as important as having it. The keys to achieving your prime goal are believing in yourself and overcoming obstacles. Nothing is easy, not even living; everything comes with a challenge. You must try your hardest and give your all. Doing nothing accomplishes nothing. None of the secrets of success will work unless you do. Some people dream of success, while others wake up and work hard at it. You're the only one who can decide whether you want to continue to dream or wake up and work toward your dream to make it come true. You've only got one life, so instead of dreaming it, live it. Working toward your dream may be difficult, but for all that hard work, your dream come true is the reward in the end.

## Post 13 by turricane (happiness and change are choices ) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 15:29:50

dreaming and praying are closely related I think. If we want something we can visualize ourselves getting it and then we do what we want to gmake it come true. This has already been said. Day dreams are the balloons that lift us over the bumps in life's road. When I am stuck in a boring meeting, riding on the train, listening to my mother in law whine about whatever ag nauseum, i escape to the caribbean. I have no idea if the real ilands with the hot sun, cool drinks, blue sky, sweet smelling flowers, swishing surf, and sexy cabana boy are anything like the real place. Someday I guess I'll go, but what if the reality sucks? I think I'll keep that dream just that. A good place to figuratively run too. My island in my head is an escape so that I won't say or do what I really would like to. My boss or mother in law have no idea how many times the palms on the beach have kept the palm on my hand from hitting them in the head.

## Post 14 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 16:59:42

It's all about the law of attraction. We attract good things with good positive thoughts and bad things with negative thoughts. You just need to be more conscious of what you are thinking, and when you catch yourself having negative thoughts, just turn them around.

## Post 15 by turricane (happiness and change are choices ) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 17:23:05

yep name it and claim it and it will happen is the mantra of many. to be the devilish advocate, what if what you want is harmful, immoral, or ddangerous?

## Post 16 by Sword of Sapphire (Whether you agree with my opinion or not, you're still gonna read it!) on Sunday, 15-Feb-2009 17:58:33

The law of attraction can't work on all unattainable dreams, probably most. What if someone's dream was to stay alive forever? That's just down right romantic. Some dreams really are unattainable, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

## Post 17 by Blue Velvet (I've got the platinum golden silver bronze poster award.) on Monday, 16-Feb-2009 15:33:49

Of course there are dreams that are unattainable. You need to be realistic yet hopeful. Get the book by Rhonda Byrnes and other books about the law of attrraction and find out more.

## Post 18 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Monday, 16-Mar-2009 16:34:09

Someone told me that some dreams you have could be showing us what is happening a few years or so in the future. How true is this if at all? This could be a different discussion altogether in its own right if I made it. What do people think about the idea I just mentioned?

## Post 19 by Sword of Sapphire (Whether you agree with my opinion or not, you're still gonna read it!) on Monday, 16-Mar-2009 22:41:31

Concerning the law of attractive, a dream you have can determine what will happen to you in a few years. As for dreams one has when they sleep, this is also possible. These things that one dreams of can be good or bad, and I don't think these things are changeable. Most of the time, when people dream something that will happen in a few years, or even in the short-term, it's quite a drastic event.