What did you dream about as a child? What did you want to become? Where did your imagination take you? Do you remember how you felt? When nothing seemed out of reach. Do you still dream as an adult and how much do you believe in these dreams to become a reality? As adults, we often find ourselves running around caught up in the daily grind. We get lost in the endless demands of responsibilities, routine, work and we normalize this too. But when we dream and nurture our dreams- this can have a profound impact on your mental health.

It’s not so childish to dream no matter how big or small. Here are a few reasons why dreaming can help with our overall well being:

Encourages personal growth: most often when we dream, we envision the ideal version of ourselves. Ever dreamt of working in the Congo with gorillas, or writing a book, becoming an actor? These dreams can encourage us to try new things, help to challenge our fears, build self-confidence, and although some dreams might not be actualized, these small steps in trying new things offer up the opportunity for self-discovery and growth.

Gives us purpose: dreams provide us with a sense of purpose. Having clear goals or aspirations, when we have something to strive for, offers us direction and adds meaning to our lives. Without having dreams, it can feel like we are stuck in a rut and when we are working on something we are passionate about and get excited about, it can drastically improve our mental well-being. Having a reason to get up in the morning can never hurt, right?

Source of Hope: I can’t keep count of the endless challenges life has thrown at me. Cancer is a well-known name in my personal life. And grief and loss has not strayed too far behind, although I wish it would. Without dreaming and pursuing my dreams I wouldn’t have a sense of hope to continue to get me to the next day. Dreaming about a better future, a better tomorrow can provide you with emotional strength to keep going. Having something to look forward to, whether it be a personal goal, a lifelong dream vacation, building a family, chasing your dream job, can be your mental anchor as you weather life’s storminess.

Reduces stress & anxiety: daydreaming and letting your imagination run wild is important. This can actually be a great stress reliever. We encourage children to use their imagination, right? So why did we stop as adults? When I’m stressed at times my mind gravitates to escapism. I know that it’s important to be present and face challenges head on, but I also give myself permission to park and step outside my stressors for a little while. Imagining a different reality (not being delusional about it) can reduce feelings of anxiety (this is why visualization or enactments in therapy are successful) we allow our brain to experience a less stressful and more peaceful scenario, and that’s OK.

Build resilience: we hear the word resiliency often (maybe too much these days). What it is, is the ability to bounce back from adversity and setbacks in our lives. Dreaming is an integral part of nurturing this quality. Dreaming is imagining a better future and through tough times it can offer you a road map of where you want to go, even if it’s a long road again. Dreams can act as a mental training tool for resilience, keeping your perspective and outlook positive even when things go wrong. What being resilient looks like is to keep trying, learning, and growing rather than throwing in the towel. Having a dream can help with this.

A more fulfilling life: is ultimately what we all want. Dreaming is often accompanied with anticipation, excitement, drive and determination. Even if we don’t achieve every single dream we have, it can add colourfulness and meaning to our lives. What I love about having dreams is the reminder of that feeling of being connected to something much larger than myself and that growth and joy is attainable.

I’ve always been called a dreamer especially by my parents and it never felt like a positive thing until my late 20’s. That’s when I started to think, I may just have a superpower! I’ve always had big dreams, some I have reached while others I dream them bigger. When we get buried with the demands of life, it’s important to nurture our dreams and use this as a tool to improve and nourish our mental health. It will help keep you focused, resilient, connected to yourself and others and is a constant reminder of your humanness and sense of purpose. So, as the song goes, dream a dream. Are you ready to start dreaming again?

Authored by Kavita Patel, RSW & Co-Founder of ReLearning Human