Learning to Dream After a Tragedy

After I lost my husband in 2008, re-creating dreams was one of the hardest things for me to discover. I could dream about things, but only if the caption did not include anything intensely personal. After a tragedy, finding ways to dream about your future can be very difficult.

There were a few things I did that allowed me begin to begin dreaming and create future goals. I first began with evaluating my past dreams that I felt I had lost in the tragedy. I evaluated if I could continue completion of these dreams without all the pieces. Those that I could not, I mourned, and those that I could continue, I kept available.

I then began to think deeply about what I enjoyed out of life and what things that I may enjoy within my new circumstances. I considered things such as location, finances, and how they would make me feel emotionally if I were to achieve them. Even if all the pieces did not fit, I kept thinking about them and how I may be able to accomplish the dream.

The hardest part of dreaming was to get to the part where I realized that I could not only dream, but that I could take action to achieve my dreams. Taking action on a dream is always difficult for anyone, but without dreams, there is little to act upon in our daily life. Once you can allow yourself to dream about something that is possible, you may begin to make steps to work towards completion of those dreams. Taking those steps can be excruciatingly painful, especially for those who have lost dreams before. However, taking just one step can help you open up the door, and to release your fears.

It is very important to journal your hopes and dreams. It will help you to see how far you have progressed towards your goals. It may also help you spell out any anxieties that you may have with wanting to dream at all.

Every so often, re-evaluate your dreams to see if you have made any progress towards them, or if you have frozen yourself in fear before you can move forward. If you are still fearful of progressing with your dreams, try to develop a plan out that will allow you to take one step and build a plan.

Learning to dream after tragedy can be heartbreaking; learning to move forward and releasing the dreams that may have been attainable, or at least were passionately developed, is trying on your mind. By keeping a journal, and learning what strengths you have to achieve those goals, you may be able to release fear and move forward with goals and dreams that are achievable.