Back | Contents | Next

 



they  also  suggest   ways  to actualize  this  attitude  and
warn  us  of  some common  resistances  which  we  may
encounter. The  basic  resistance, and  it is  one that may
take many forms, is  the  tendency  to reject our dreams.
Although  our  reason  for  rejecting  a  dream  is usually
perfectly  valid   when  considered    on   its own   terms,
through such rejections our dream recall is nevertheless
inhibited.   Therefore,   we   must   periodically come  to
terms with the source of this resistance.
    We may, for example, reject  a  dream outright. Upon
awakening in the morning, we may say to ourselves, "Oh,
that was nothing!" and  carelessly  toss aside  a lingering
dream  image  which otherwise  might  have  provided  a
memory for a dream. When  we are  seriously  trying  to
recall our dreams, such judgments are ill-advised.  Later
in  the  day  a  rejected   dream  fragment  may  seem  to
be  quite  interesting   after  all,  but   then   we   will   be
disappointed  to  discover  that  we  can  no longer recall
the dream.
    We  may also disregard  a dream  on the basis that our
memory  of  it  is  too incomplete or confused. We may
fall prey to philosophical doubt concerning the basis for
trusting  memory  itself  and  we  will confuse ourselves
with   doubts  as   to  whether  we  dreamed   at   all.  The
subjective   certainty  which  typically  accompanies  the
initial, spontaneous  recollection of our dream will fade
with  time  and as  the dream  is  scrutinized.  Thus,  it  is
better to record the first memory of the dream and let it
go  at  that. There  will always  be time for later editorial
revision   and   the  original   evidence   will   have   been
preserved.
    Another  reason  for  rejecting a dream is that it seems
to  be  disappointingly  short  and  apparently  trivial. We
may conclude  that the dream does  not contain  much of
value. In another instance,  a dream may repel us because
of its seeming incoherence or absurdity,  or perhapseven
because its contents  offend us.  But we should  set aside
our  judgments  and  remember  the  dream.  Even though
our reasons may be valid, our developing ability to recall
dreams is jeopardized each time we devalue one of them.
Each  time  we  ignore a  dream,  we  reinforce  the  auto-

158

 
.
Back | Contents | Next