What are You Dreaming of Lately?

It's been a while since I have had a dream that has left me in a place of deep contemplation and lingers quietly in the background as I go through my day. As far back as I can remember, I have always had dreams of either being naked in public or free-falling in complete darkness. I know these are two of the most common dreams. But I am talking about the more distinct dreams and personal dreams that are directly related to an ongoing situation or even something from the past. These are the ones I wake up and quickly write down, to prevent them from becoming hazy fragments of my imagination. To some, dreams are a mere function of the brain consolidating memories and to others, dreams provide answers to very difficult situations.

Have you ever woken up crying out of intense grief or sadness? I have on multiple occasions experienced these intense emotions that blur the lines between being asleep and being awake. These episodes have been described as being quite normal when they do not happen frequently, and they tend to be related to unresolved trauma and grief—I suspect the latter may be true for me. The most significant happened when I had to confront the truth that I was emotionally abandoned by a partner.

In the olden days, people believed that our dreams were full of clues about the future. - Alain de Botton explained to a child

Dreams are not just the consolidation of experiences, thoughts, emotions, places and people we have already encountered in our lives. They may or may not provide clues into the future, but they allow the mind to roam wildly and unrestricted in a way that would not be possible in the real world.

About a year ago, I dreamt that I walked into my kitchen and there was a cockroach infestation. I loathe cockroaches and even worse, they were in my kitchen making my skin crawl in the dream. I remember screaming to my partner and asking him to get rid of them. We both grabbed kitchen towels and began chasing them out, but it almost seemed that they just kept multiplying. No matter how many we chased out or killed, more kept showing up.

That morning, I woke up confused about what this meant. As a believer that dreams sometimes carry deep meaning, I did some research into what a cockroach infestation meant, and boy, was my mind blown. It was spot on about all the contributing emotions and I was able to expand on how some experiences from my past were manifesting in my dreams. It was shocking that so many revelations were being made while I slept. I even discussed this with my therapist.

I was able to find my answers, but let's explore the meanings behind three of the most common dreams.

Dreaming About Being Pregnant

Dreams of pregnancy often symbolize growth, transformation, and new beginnings. It doesn’t necessarily mean literal pregnancy but rather the birth of new ideas, projects, or phases in life. It can reflect:

• Creativity – You might be nurturing a new idea, goal, or personal transformation.

• Anxiety or anticipation – If the dream feels stressful, it could represent fear of change or responsibility.

• Personal growth – This may signal emotional or psychological development, especially if you’re evolving in a significant area of life.

Dreaming About Falling

Falling dreams are typically linked to loss of control, insecurity, or fear of failure. They can indicate:

• Stress and instability – You might feel overwhelmed in some aspect of your life.

• Fear of failure – Falling can symbolize worries about not meeting expectations or losing something important.

• Letting go – Sometimes, it suggests that you need to release control and trust the process.

Dreaming About Being Naked in Public

This dream is often associated with vulnerability, exposure, and self-consciousness. It can reflect:

• Fear of judgment – You may be worried about how others perceive you.

• Imposter syndrome – Feeling like you’re being “exposed” for not being as competent as you’d like to appear.

• Liberation – In some cases, it can symbolize a desire to be more authentic and free from societal expectations.

Making Space for Your Dreams

It’s easy to get caught up in routines, responsibilities, and the endless to-do lists that make up adult life. There’s always something urgent pulling our focus, always a reason to push our dreams aside. But what if we started making space for them now, even in the smallest ways?

Maybe it’s writing it down. Maybe it’s speaking it into existence, even if just to yourself. Maybe it’s taking one small step toward it, however uncertain it may feel.

The truth is, dreams don’t just happen all at once. They unfold in moments, in choices, in tiny acts of courage. And sometimes, simply acknowledging them is the first step in bringing them to life.

So, What Are You Dreaming About Right Now?

What’s been tugging at the edges of your mind, waiting for you to notice? What would you do if there were no obstacles, no doubts, no fears holding you back?

Maybe it’s time to listen. Maybe it’s time to give your dream permission to exist.

I’d love to hear—what’s on your heart right now? What are you dreaming about? Let’s talk about it in the comments.

Photos: Top by Tran Phu/Unspash and second by Jr Korpa