Dedication Solution To Frustration

Thu., Dec. 4, 1997

Nancy Huseby Bloom

Dear Nancy: My college years were miserable, mostly because of my immaturity. I was pursuing a degree I felt would win approval from someone rather than follow my own interests. As a result, I barely graduated. I worked several years in my field of study, then left to become a full-time mother. Now I’m thinking about returning to school to pursue a more interesting career choice.

I had this dream several times after I graduated 10 years ago, but it stopped after a few months. Now, after researching my options for returning to school, it has returned. Please help me!

- Tammy

I’m in the middle of a semester and suddenly realize I have not attended a single class. I don’t even know where the classes are being held. I want to get a good grade but I realize the odds are against me because I’m so far behind. I panic and tell myself I’ll pick up my class schedule the next day, find out where and when my classes are and begin doing my homework.

Dear Tammy: This is a classic “frustration” dream, and one that nearly everyone dreams sometime. For you, it seems like a time warp, since you felt so “lost” and out of sync when you were in school 10 years ago. The dream may be triggered by your anxiety about doing well in school this time.

When we spoke on the telephone, you said you are an ambitious person and have felt lost without a career. Is the dream reflecting your feelings of bewilderment and loss of identity? We all have times in our lives when we feel this way. Discovering and pursuing the work that nurtures us is one of life’s greatest challenges and gives us great rewards.

Perhaps your dream is trying to warn you that you need to be dedicated to your education and work hard this time. Making your decision in the dream is a good sign and shows you are willing. Commitments like this one are easy to make in dreams, but usually require dedication and perseverance to carry out.

Dreams come to teach us about ourselves and our lives. As long as we are alive, we are learning. In our dreams, or in our waking life, we are always in school.

Here are some dream tips to consider:

Where did your last dream take place? Dream locations can be revealing and often tell us outright what issue the dream is addressing in our lives.

School dreams are usually teaching dreams and show us at what level we are learning. Are you in grade school or a university?

Churches often symbolize our spiritual life. Is your dream church a place of light and love, or does it feel dark and harsh?

Does your dream take place in a store or mall? These places show us our inner resources and usually tell us we have many options to choose from.

When working with dream locations, be aware they can also depict personal issues with your school, church or where you shop.

This column is intended as entertainment. But psychologists who work with clients’ dreams say that dreams can hold a tremendous amount of significance; a particularly disturbing or repetitive dream may indicate the need to see a therapist.

, DataTimes MEMO: Nancy Huseby Bloom has studied dreams for 18 years. Dreams may be sent to her c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax, (509) 459-5098.

Nancy Huseby Bloom has studied dreams for 18 years. Dreams may be sent to her c/o The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax, (509) 459-5098.

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