The Meaning of Dreams

Many people dwell on the meaning of their dreams. On the other hand, there are those who do not dream very regularly. There is also the category of people who dream, but forget what they dreamed of the instant the wake up.

Dreams may have subliminal meanings because they are representations of your brain activity while you are not actively thinking. They do not follow a train of thought or logic due to your body processes being slowed and rested at that point. This may mean that they are gateways to the subconscious.

However, there are also theories that dreams affect people when they are in the most disturbed, or close to wakeful, state of sleep – the REM cycle. At this point, a person may dream of anything that has affected their conscious mind through the course of time, as well. For example, children who are under-prepared for exams may have dreams about the next day’s paper.

Whether they have a positive or negative dream, however, could possibly bring out some interesting understandings of the human psyche. It could even indicate that a person is inherently positive or not. It could also be indicative of the fact that people are greatly affected by their surroundings, and in that moment of affect (prolonged mood), their mind chose to show them pleasant or unpleasant dreams.

From a practical approach, it is best not to worry too much about what you dream of or try to read into them too much. They may just be an indication of your overall mood-state, something you can easily change if need be.  

Concentrating on Positive Stimuli for Better Living

The environment is filled with various stimuli. Even inanimate objects obtain an emotional reaction from us because we have a habit of associating everything we experience, with our past occurrences involving similar objects and people. For the same reason, it is important to actively look out for positive stimuli so as to elicit a positive emotional response, and thereby, improve our day.

Surprisingly, it is often the few striking features of our physical environment about which we have good memories. Yet we tend to take them for granted. Take the sun, for instance. If you have a cherished memory where you sat and watched the sunrise with your family or friends and found peace for a few moments, try and achieve that sensation each time you step out of the house. Exposure to the sun will immediately bring out a peaceful feeling within you because of this association, and you will feel significantly better than you already do.

It is important to have a positive outlook through the course of the day because negative emotions tend to cloud the mind. Furthermore, a bad mood spreads fairly quickly, and you will only regret that the cause of another person’s foul mood could have been you. Another excellent technique is to smile politely at anyone who might pass you by and make eye contact. Bringing out joy in other people is quite rewarding in its own manner. Consider doing one small good deed a day if possible. Soon, nothing will be able to bring you down in the dumps. 

Empowering the Women of the World

In all honesty, men and women are not born equals. Each gender has a set of qualities and mannerisms that differ from the other. This may be seen in the form of physical strength, mental capabilities, emotional quotient and the acquisition of particular skills. However, ‘unequal’ in this sense, is just a way of saying ‘different’. It does not establish the superiority of one sex over the other.

Unfortunately, there are a number of women around the world who are underprivileged. They are born in societies that see the male as the better endowed being among the two. Although many of us do not notice these mishaps because we are safe in better places, it is important to empower those who are not as lucky as us. Once again, this responsibility is  of all people who know better; and not just womankind.

The idea that women are the weaker of the species is deep-seeded. Perhaps it arises from the time of cavemen, when social roles and responsibilities determined who the caretaker was and who the breadwinner was. If we continue to live in that era, we will hardly be able to say with pride that humans are the more evolved species.

It is important to destroy this construct by eliminating the idea of it. Constantly maintaining that women are underhanded will only create a world where people grow up believing that this is true. Instead, children who grow up in an environment that has never spoken about gender bias will grow up to see it as something alien. We must work on change through the next generation, not just the present one.  

Dealing with Ghosts of the Past

Why does the past intimidate people? Why do harsh events continue to affect a person’s way of life? Is there a way to continue with a healthy life without having to reflect on what is already dealt with?

Yes, there definitely is a way to get rid of such thoughts. If you ask yourself if you can get over with what is already dealt with, you must also ask yourself if the situation has really been resolved or not. Guilt and shame are the two major feelings that play a part in determining whether you felt guilty or ashamed by any past incident. If you still feel the same way, then you must work to resolve the matter, otherwise it will continue to haunt you.

Take the example of a child who has scored poor grades in the exams. If the marks were called out in the school in front of everybody, the child may become upset for a while. However, this situation is particularly dangerous when you look at the future course for this youngster. Chronic depression could be a repercussion of such a situation, because the individual was made to feel guilty and ashamed.

Resolving the matter has to come from within. You have to work proactively at digging out the roots of the problematic situation and changing your self-image. Just facing the issue often gives you the confidence you need to forget about it. Once you have come to terms with something, it cannot hurt your pride.  

Controlling Anger through Rational Thinking

Every individual feels angry at some point in time. Some people happen to get affected by this emotion a lot more than others. Rationalization can help you fight off the negative feeling. You must develop a single train of thought. All you really have to work on, is to develop the ability to take your mind away from the present situation, and identify the cause, effect, and likely outcome of the immediate event.

Force yourself to come out of the heat of the moment and reflect upon the various negative implications a simple fight could have. A healthy relationship with friends or family can be destroyed in just an instant if you allow yourself to give into your anger. Instead, try to see yourself slightly ahead of time. Picture yourself a little ahead of time, in a situation where you have already forgiven everything of the past. Would you really want to have hurt another individual just because you were in the spur of the moment?

Feeling regret is the harshest punishment of failing to take control of your emotions. Another way to look at things is to see what would effectively work in changing the situation for you. If a certain characteristic or behavior pattern of another individual upsets you in some way, identify the communication pattern that would be most effective in solving the issue. Only by expressing yourself will another person understand what it is that affects you. Mutual compromise and understanding leads to strong relations. 

An Introduction to Chakras

Chakras refer to energy centers located in the body. Everybody has seven chakras in their body. There are three basic states in which these chakras affect us, by being dormant, active or over-active. When an energy center is dormant, it affects our lives by keeping us away from our potential. When the centers are hyperactive, they also have negative implications like greediness and so on. The right balance indicates an active chakra. This is what each of us should aspire to achieve.

In a bottom-to-top order, the first chakra is the root chakra. An active one indicates physicality and comfort levels in different environments. It shows how well you are connected with your body. Fear and anxiety indicate a dormant root chakra. The opposing end indicates greed and materialism.

The second chakra is the sacral chakra. It governs feelings of sexuality and intimacy. A dormant one shows aversion to close relationships, while an over-active one indicates a lack of control over emotions. The navel chakra is the next, which controls your self-esteem. A closed navel chakra shows an indecisive and passive approach. The opposite shows aggressive behavior.

The heart chakra controls love and affection. A closed one shows that you distance yourself, while an over-active one indicates that a person can be selfish, to the extent of over-imposing. The chakra at the throat revolves around communication skills. The ‘Third Eye’ chakra tells you about insight, and how you visualize various aspects in your life. The final chakra is the crown chakra. It is indicative of a person’s wisdom and connection with the world.

How Running can Help You Find Yourself

Running gives you a way out. But it is not as simple as it seems. The first few attempts will most likely be disastrous. However getting started is rather easy. Just step out of your house without your cellphone or any money, and start running. Once you feel like you absolutely cannot go any further, turn back, and run towards your home.

This may sound torturous and  self-mutilating to you, but it is a great thing to do. Once you have successfully managed to run those extra miles, you will know how much it pays off. You do not have to strain yourself by going very fast. Even jogging the distance is perfectly acceptable.

The one-on-one session with yourself gives you a lot of time to wonder about things. Such introspection is needed. Also, when you are exerting, you will be pumped up and this rush of energy will not come down very easily. This means that even the saddening events of your life wont be able to hamper your spirits.

The more you run this way, the more you will start to find that everything is just how you allow yourself to think it is. When you have your blood rushing through your arteries and veins and have no way to get back, except to run more, you will feel liberated. Continue on your path, and take on the rest of the day. Give yourself time, and you will find who you are.