0:03 [Music] welcome back to 8 Minute English on the learn English podcast last night I had the weirdest dream I was flying on a giant slice of pizza yes pizza and then a talking cat appeared the cat told me I had to solve a riddle to land safely and guess what I woke up just as I was about to answer so frustrating but it made me wonder why do we dream have you ever thought about that dreams are such a mystery they can be funny weird or even a little scary and in today's episode we're diving into this fascinating topic
0:49 why do we dream we'll talk about what dreams actually are and some interesting theories about why they happen and in the second part we'll explore how dreams might reflect your emotions or even reveal something about you listen to the upcoming conversation to discover fascinating insights about what your dreams could be saying about you and don't forget we've prepared a free pdf in the description to help you review everything we discussed today so grab your favorite snack get comfortable and let's get [Music] started Christine I had a really strange dream last night night oh what was it about I was riding a giant cat through the clouds it was fun but super weird
1:36 that's so random but it makes sense because dreams often reflect our thoughts or emotions in strange ways right but why do we dream in the first place scientists aren't completely sure but there are some theories for example one Theory says dreams help the brain organize information and store memories so like cleaning up your brain's desk exactly another theory is that dreams help us process emotions like stress or anxiety it's like your brain is having a therapy session while you sleep that's interesting what about recurring dreams I sometimes dream I'm late for an exam even though I'm not in school anymore recurring dreams often mean your brain is trying to solve an unresolved issue
2:23 maybe it's your subconscious reminding you about deadlines or responsibilities oh that makes sense and what about night nightmares usually come from stress or fear for example if you're really worried about something it might show up in your dreams as a scary situation that's not fun is there a way to stop them you can try writing down your dreams in a journal it helps you understand them better reducing stress in your daily life also makes a big difference H I might try that dreams really are more than just random stories in our sleep you can try writing down your dreams in a journal it helps you understand them better reducing stress in your daily life also makes a big difference H I
3:08 might try that dreams really are more than just random stories in our sleep they're like messages from your brain trying to tell you something important but what if I can't make sense of my dreams sometimes they're just so bizarre like flying with purple elephants are talking to a giant clock that's normal not all dreams have a clear meaning sometimes they're just your brain being creative or processing random information so it's okay if I don't figure everything out the point is to pay attention to patterns or recurring themes if you keep dreaming about something specific it might be worth thinking about what it means to you oh like my recurring dream of being late for something maybe it's my brain
3:53 telling me to be more organized that's a great example you know this makes me wonder if dreams can actually help us solve problems like could they show us Solutions we didn't think of while we were awake there are stories of people solving big problems or having creative breakthroughs thanks to dreams like Dimitri melay of dreaming about the periodic table wow so dreams aren't just fun they can be useful too next time you dream about something strange don't dismiss it it might just be your brain giving you a little gift I'll definitely start paying more attention to my dreams Maybe I'll even find my own periodic table and who knows maybe one day you'll dream of those winning lottery numbers too I'll try
4:39 [Music] tonight all right let's dive into some interesting phrases from today's conversation REM sleep a phase of sleep where dreams are most Vivid and your eyes move rapidly under your eyelids example good REM sleep is essential for a healthy brain subconscious mind the part of your mind that works without you being aware often influencing your thoughts and dreams example your subconscious mind might bring hidden worries into your dreams recurring dream a dream that happens repeatedly often with a similar theme or setting example I used to have
5:24 a recurring dream about being late for school dream interpretation the process of analyzing and finding meanings behind dreams example some people believe dream interpretation can reveal your true feelings lucid dreaming a state where you are aware that you're dreaming and can sometimes control the dream example lucid dreaming lets you explore your imagination in a unique way [Music] now let's think about this question what's the most unusual dream you've ever had for me I once dreamed I was a
6:10 superhero saving the world but forgot my Cape do you think dreams can help us solve problems in real life personally I believe dreams can offer hints or New Perspectives sometimes you wake up with a fresh idea [Music] dreams are so mysterious aren't they one moment you're flying and the next you're back in school taking a test but have you ever wondered why we dream at all is it just our brain playing around or is there something deeper scientists have been studying dreams for decades and the findings are incredible for example did you know that dreaming might actually help you process your emotions and
6:56 improve your memory there's even evidence that dream can spark creativity Albert Einstein reportedly got some of his ideas from dreams oh and don't forget about those strange recurring dreams like being chased by something or forgetting your homework what's up with those in today's episode we're diving into all things dreams what they are why we have them and what they might be telling us so stick around as we explore the science the mystery and even the fun side of dreaming and if if you're curious about how to remember your dreams better or what your dreams might mean this episode is for you plus don't forget to check out the free pdf in the description it's full of tips and extra
7:43 fun facts about dreams thank you for joining me and I hope you learned something new and useful take care stay healthy and I'll see you in the next episode [Music]
