The Power Of Dreams

10 seconds! That’s just a little over the time recorded by the best 100 meter dash sprinters. No wonder I can’t recall 90% of my dreams. They are gone in a flash.

Ever feel like that? Waking up from a dream feeling like it slipped through your fingers, leaving you with fragments and vague memories? If you have, welcome to Sgt Pepper’s Forgotten Dreams Band! Story of my life.

But I get it - not everyone may be excited by these dreams. Some dismiss them as mere random images and sensations without any real significance. But I think the truth is far more captivating. Dreams, shrouded in mystery, have intrigued humans for centuries, me included.

Case in point: sometime last week I watched “The Dream Seller” on Netflix.

I managed to jot down some of the intriguing dialogue:

“I am a dream seller. I sell what money can’t buy. Courage for the insecure. Confidence for the phobic. Common sense for the unwary” 

The movie tells the story of a disillusioned psychologist who is about to commit suicide until an unexpected encounter with an unlikely savior - the dream seller, convinces him otherwise.

The dream-seller himself had experienced a tragic loss brought on in part by his own share of mistakes. He points out the madness of extreme capitalism in modern society. The same madness that had pushed the psychologist to the brink of taking his own life.

He then sells a dream to the psychologist and others that true success is attaining what money can't buy and encourages people to follow their dreams. He forms a huge following. As usual, as in real life, powerful people feel threatened and conspire to kill him. Common sense prevails and he wins - sort of, in the end. The movie garnered a 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes - one of the most influential movie aggregator and review sites. No mean feat that.

Going back a bit further, Fleetwood Mac’s poetic 1977 “Dreams” echoes the dream-seller’s vision:

The video is here:

Writers too seem to have a particular liking for dreams. C.S. Lewis emphasizes the importance of having dreams and aspirations in life. Richard Bach encourages us to pay attention to dreams and use them as a tool for personal growth and self-discovery. Nonetheless, both remind us that it takes hard work and dedication to achieve them - meaning there are no short cuts and no easy ways.

“The mass of men live lives of quiet desperation” may be an apt description of the state of affairs of many in today’s dire daily life context. But it need not remain so. Taking a leaf from the Dream Seller, it is possible to turn things around, whatever the circumstances may be

The above examples through art and literature indicate that dreams have an immense importance in our lives. Dreams can ignite our spirit, provide motivation, offer a pathway to self improvement. No matter what the current situation, it does not determine the end result. A correct attitude, work ethic and a positive mindset can transform lives for the better.

I am a dream-seller too. If you have been observing, over the past couple of months, through this newsletter, I have been selling my own dreams here as well. And if you want to, you too can join me, or sell those dreams of yours to others as well. Imagine a world of dream sellers!

Here’s how you too can kickstart the process:

Modern scientific research increasingly supports the idea that dreams serve as a window into our subconscious minds. They possess the power to inspire creativity, assist in problem-solving, and contribute to our overall well-being. Dreams are not to be underestimated but embraced as a source of insight and untapped potential.

I leave you with one final thought from a much respected figure known for his progressive views and advocacy for ecumenism and interfaith dialogue:

Till next time,

Jude