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I'd seen a falcon soaring high up in the blue skies, gliding smoothly and changing course fearlessly. He did not ravage the nest of other small birds, but was peaceful. This was my recurring dream for about 5 days in Jan. I could not understand what it meant or where it came from. You've probably had similar dreams! Dreams can make you feel ecstatic, melancholic, anxious and fearful. They seem otherworldly and irrational, but never fail to leave us questioning and thinking.

I'd have probably given up the soaring falcon to oblivion, but when I observed how I spent my life pleasing family and friends; I stopped to give the dream a serious thought. Dreams reflect your latent emotions and thoughts, and often throw up solutions to the problems in the real world. Marcia Emery, PhD, a psychologist at Holos University says, "People are now using their dreams as tools to make their lives better." Paul McCartney actually dreamt the tune of the famous song 'Yesterday' he wrote in 1965. Mary Shelley dreamt of the monster Frankenstein and then went ahead to write her renowned gothic novel in 1818. When Elias Howe, inventor of the sewing machine, dreamt of natives dancing around a prisoner with spears that had holes at their tips, he felt enlightened about making his machine better operable.

• Dreaming is thinking : Just in a different biochemical state, suggests Dr. Barrett, author of "The Committee of Sleep: How Artists, Scientists, and Athletes Use Dreams for Creative Problem-Solving - and How You Can Too." The best time to try and recall your dream is when you awake. Close your eyes and breathe out saying 'ahhhh'. If however, you cannot remember or forget your dream through the course of the day, let it go and do not stress yourself! There are different kinds of dreams and their impact on your emotions and behavior will vary accordingly.
• Lucid Dreams : You see yourself driving along that freeway without a care. Your music's playing loud and your head is bobbing side to side. When suddenly that truck vrooms past you, you still manage to keep your cool and drive safe. Before you realize it, your crabby roommate shakes you awake. Dreams in which you assume full control of your situation, behavior, and actions are called lucid dreams. You can take the dream where you want to, with no self-doubt or obstacle to obstruct your way.
• Epic Dreams : It is December the 21st and the skies seem to be closing in on you. Thunder and lightning frighten your kids and the earth opens up to swallow your friends and family. You however, manage to save the world by defeating the evil forces with your supernatural powers. Dreams like these are called epic dreams. They are vivid and become embedded in your memory for many years. There is a sense of awe and satisfaction once you awake from such dreams.
• Nightmares : You rammed your car into the tree. In the dead of the night, no one comes to your rescue. Nightmares like these occur when you are faced with fears that haven't been confronted or resolved. Researchers suggest that, people who have had a family history of psychiatric problems or drug experiences usually have nightmares. This is also a common phenomenon that tends to occur in the aftermath of any traumatic event.
• Prophetic Dreams : The teacher has caught you chatting and is now quizzing you about the topic being discussed in class. You stammer, scratch your head and somehow confidently blurt out the right answer. The very same thing happens to you in class the next day! You are bewildered and flummoxed. Prophetic dreams tell of the future, but you cannot completely rely on them. They may or may not come true and might even be a mere coincidence. Such dreams are caused because of anxieties and a need for certainty in life.

These are just a few categories in which dreams can be classified. It is possible to use your dreams to resolve problems and free yourself from seemingly inextricable situations. A rich man once said to his student, "If you can imagine and dream that you have a $100 million dollars, you start living the life of a millionaire and eventually work towards achieving that status." Daydreaming can help you envision your goal. So dream a little dream each day!

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