The Power of Dreams

Do dreams have power? Do they give us visions of the future? Doubtful. Otherwise there would probably be a whole market for dream telling and stores everywhere.

So what good are dreams? Sometimes they can help us. Let's take two examples from my life.

The Mountain
Once I was with a group of people up on the mountain. I knew instinctively that this wasn't a real mountain but the mountain of life. It was the mountain that every person must climb. Some people reach the peak. Some people never start their journey. In this dream the people that I was with were going on ahead of me but I chose to stay behind. Instead of climbing the mountain, I chose the things that were easy. It doesn't matter what these things were but everyone has these things that hold them back from growing in their lives. The good thing was that my companions continued to encourage me and told me to put away those things that were holding me back. I had this dream 20 years ago and I've never forgotten it.

The Broken Vase
Some time ago I saw a beautiful vase that was made of clear glass. Suddenly it broke into a thousand pieces but the sum of those pieces was much more beautiful than the original vase. Each piece sparkled like diamonds and at the time it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Again I knew this wasn't a vase but my life. Every time my life is shattered somehow I become stronger and more beautiful. When I put the vase back together again it's just as suddenly smashed into a thousand pieces.

So what are your dreams trying to tell you? Not the ones where you're standing in front of a crowd with no pants on! Sometimes a dream is just a dream. And sometimes we need to listen to them!

Why Can't I Say What I Mean?

You're in a meeting. Someone asks you a question. All eyes are on you.

30 seconds ago you know what you were going to say.

20 seconds ago your brain was getting ready to answer the question and 5 seconds ago your brain just went blank.

Although science has answered why this may happen, it doesn't really help you in the meeting.

What's going on? I had the answer to the question in my brain and it was amazing. Everyone would have cheered and laughed and cried and clapped. But the garbage that's coming out of my mouth as I answer this question is not what I was expecting.

The next time someone asks you a question, is the same thing going to happen? Probably.

So what can you do?

Think about what you're going to say

Try to be focused on the speaker instead of yourself as much as possible

You might need to work on your listening skills and focus on what the other person saying instead of letting your mind run a thousand miles an hour while someone else is talking and you wait for your turn to speak.

Pause before you speak. Sometimes just letting the words come out immediately makes it difficult for people to understand you.

Try to speak simply. Sometimes using a lot of words or intelligent sounding words causes us trouble.

You're going to make mistakes. Make the mistakes and move on.

Keep trying. Practice!

The Most Important Meal of the Day (for your brain anyway)

What's the most important meal of the day?

I know you want to say breakfast and sure maybe it is - for your body.  But what about your brain?  What are you shoveling into it all day?

Photo By: David Malan/Getty Images

For me, it's generally a steady diet of negativity, stress and internet. Translated: Brain Junk Food.

How about we start our day with something that will help your brain?

Meditation

Meditation, which Merriam Webster defines as to engage in mental exercise, is the equivalent of eating a healthy salad.  The good thing is, that no actual eating is required.  Meditation, is just simpy sitting still and letting go.  

Look up types of meditation and you'll find dozens of tried and true methods.  But where should you start?  

Sure, you could go to Wikihow and read steps to meditation while looking at sometimes hilariously bad drawings or you can just start.

Here's a couple of steps to help you begin meditation right now.

- Don't set aside twenty minutes in the morning before you have to leave for work or school

Start off slow.  If you want to eat healthy, you're not going to shove a salad for five down for breakfast.

You'll burn yourself out before you even start.

-Start with one minute

Set aside one minute for meditation.  That isn't asking a lot seeing as you have 1,339 minutes left at your disposal today.

-Find some place quiet and free of distraction

Your bedroom, your office, even your bathroom is a good place.  Find somewhere where you won't be distracted.

-Silence your phone

You can go one minute without looking at your phone....can't you?

-Sit comfortably

Save the lotus position for next time.  Just sit or even stand somewhere where you won't be thinking about how uncomfortable you are.

-Just be you

Sure you can say mantras or do breathing exercises but if you haven't meditated before, this just serves as a distraction

-Don't do a thing

Meditation should be a time for you.  Just exist. Just sit or stand there.  If your mind wanders a little, as it will, it's ok.  Don't clamp down on your brain and say NO, I'M MEDITATING.

When your mind wanders, gently focus on where you are right now.

My mind loves to wander.  Your mind does the same thing.  The key to meditation is just letting it happen.  And then gently coming back to where you are right now.

Don't forget to set some kind of timer. 

You may be so relaxed in 60 seconds that you forget everything else.  Well, great!  Just don't be late for work!

Meditate for just a minute! You'll be starting your brain off with the most important meal of the day.