DREAMERS are visionary leaders who inspire others through their big-picture thinking. They are highly creative individuals who possess the ability to imagine ambitious long-term goals.
Dreams—those series of images or thoughts that appear in the mind of a sleeping person—have fascinated, puzzled, and sometimes frightened humanity for thousands of years. They represent idle fantasies, visions, aspirations, and yearnings. Over time, countless strange and intriguing explanations have been offered about the nature and meaning of dreams.
Interpreters of dreams have published innumerable books on the subject. I bought several of these books myself. I found myself reading them and attempting to analyze my own dreams, only to become unsure—and sometimes quite confused—by the many different interpretations offered for the same dream.
In earlier times, people believed that the figures appearing in dreams were messengers from the gods. Dreams were thought to originate from forces beyond a person’s own abilities or understanding. Many believed that dreams came from something outside the dreamer’s own mind. Do you believe that?
Today, however, many believe that the dreamer creates his own dreams. Because dreams originate from the dreamer, they may carry special meaning for that person. Why someone has a particular dream may depend on many factors. Health, for example, can influence dreams. A person who is ill or uncomfortable may experience very different dreams from someone who feels well and happy.
Physical conditions may also shape dreams. If a person is hungry, cold, or extremely tired, those feelings may appear in the dream itself. Events from the previous day can also strongly influence what people dream about. Often, the people or situations that appear in dreams are connected to events in our waking lives. Emotions may also play a role. A strong desire or need can manifest itself in dreams, while fear can easily become part of them as well.
I dream a lot. I often find myself wondering about my own dreams and what they say about me. I am still dreaming of a better world. Perhaps it sounds naïve—blue-eyed, as some would say—but these are my dreams: a world without ignorance and arrogance; a world with true friends who do not turn away when we need them; a world where people stop killing each other for foolish and incomprehensible reasons; a world where people stop hurting and insulting one another out of envy.
Some of the greatest leaders in history were dreamers. Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a world where people would be treated equally, regardless of race or religion. Nelson Mandela dreamed of a South Africa free from apartheid.
Are dreams merely foam—something light and fleeting? Maybe. Maybe not. Confucius once said, “The one who steals our dreams brings us to death.” PWEDE! Let’s dream hard, and let’s work harder!
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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com./PN
