Ever noticed how your business circumstances tend to mirror the happenings of your inner world? It doesn't take a crystal ball to see that an out-of-whack CEO often leads to one very out-of-whack business.
Well, what if your dream world could also tell you a thing or two about the health and well-being of your company?
In my experience, it most certainly can.
1) Business Nightmares
Do you frequently dream about lost tax receipts, oversleeping through sales calls, or being booed off the TED stage in your skimmies?
Reoccurring business nightmares are sure understandable given the stress most entrepreneurs face but nightmares are usually indicators that there is something we need to look at. Most nightmares, at their core, express some element of not feeling good enough, safe enough, strong enough, or (fill-in-the-blank enough). Unfortunately, haunting nightmares are kind of like Haley Joel Osment's ghosts in the Sixth Sense. Until you listen to them and understand what they want, they usually keep coming back in different forms. Fortunately, they aren't out to hurt us and only come carrying a message.
It could be helpful to do some Inner Critic work with a coach or come up with some strategies to manage the stress you're carrying before it impacts your business.
2) Dreaming About Work Way Too Much
Maybe your work dreams aren't necessarily scary but if you're consistently dreaming about your website redesign or social media campaign then it may mean your mind and/or lifestyle is a little off balance.
(I can definitely attest to this one. In my most work-a-holic moments, I started having boring dreams about target market research. Sad but true!).
Perhaps you could benefit by bringing some juicy soul food back into your life -- time for fun, relationships, health, creativity, spirituality, nature, travel and adventures, indulging in life's pleasures -- whatever lights you up. Ask yourself what your heart is wanting more of and see if you can squeeze in some extra juicy you time.
3) You've Stopped Dreaming Altogether
Many ancient cultures believed that dreaming is a sign of health and a vibrant connection to your spirit and unconscious.
First and foremost, you might make sure you're getting enough sleep (and quality sleep) because when our body is exhausted dream-recall is often one of the first things to go.
If you are getting adequate sleep, however, you might ask yourself if you're feeling disconnected from your intuition, creativity, and more soulful side.
In reality, many experts believe that we all have on average 4-6 dreams per night whether or not we remember them. If you'd like to rekindle that connection to your inner dream guidance, here are a few helpful steps you can try:
- 1) Set the intention to remember your dreams. It sounds obvious but our brain doesn't waste valuable mental capacity (especially at 6 in the morning...) on things we don't value or deem important. Start by deciding this is important to you and a practice you truly want to develop. Have a compelling "why."
4) Answers to Business Questions
Do you have a burning business question? Are you debating whether to partner with a friend on a project? Take your venture in a new direction? Invest in further training? Develop a new product or service? Confused about your niche?
Why not ask your higher self?
Asking your dreams a question is a process known as dream incubation. Each night before you go to bed, simply think about a question you'd love to know the answer to and repeat it in your mind as you drift off to sleep. In the morning, write down your dream as usual and consider your dream a symbolic answer from your subconscious. In one Harvard study on dream incubation, two-thirds of participants had dreams about their chosen topics, while one-third came up with a solution via their dream. Let your imagination come up with an answer! What wisdom and direction can you find?
Now your turn: What are some business dreams you've had and what do you think they had to tell you?
Let us know in the comment section below and as you doze off to sleep tonight, don't underestimate the power of those dreams!
Happy dreaming,
Stephanie
Stephanie Seibel is a coach, writer, and speaker passionate about helping conscious creatives be the change through the integral journey of entrepreneurship. She is currently building a community of dreamers, movers, and shakers and will soon be launching her brand new Business Inner-Vention program. To hop on the wait-list, join the community, or pick up a free meditation, visit www.redthreadcoaching.com or Twitter @RedThreadCoach