These were the steps that helped overthinking finally loosen its grip
I would often get lost down a rabbit hole with my thoughts. I genuinely believed that if I just kept interrogating a problem long enough, turning it over in my mind again and again, the answer would eventually show itself. Deep down I knew I was ruminating, but I didn’t care. I didn’t even see it as a problem. It was simply the way I thought I had to think.
Unfortunately this way of thinking was endless and exhausting. I rarely reached a resolution and when I did, I was already moving on to the next problem.
There was only one thing that changed everything for me — Dream Interpretation.
“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” — C.G. Jung
When I first heard this statement from Carl Jung, I thought this was about becoming aware of your unconscious behaviours. However, there is a lot more to this statement.
Yes, it is true that a lot of our actions are indeed unconscious, but becoming fully aware of them is no easy feat. It can take a long time to wake up to these behaviours, and often the lessons are learnt several days later. It’s reactive and you’re still stuck in an analysis loop due to the unconscious behaviour being, well… unconscious.
What if I told you that your dreams hold incredible insights to all your problems.
… and this is what Carl Jung really meant. What he is actually suggesting is using unconscious dream images and making them conscious.
It’s no surprise that depth psychologists pay close attention to what your dreams are trying to tell you. They’re not just random images, they’re messages deep from your unconscious mind. Learning to understand them is a bit like learning to read music, except the song you’re decoding is your own life.
Once you learn how to properly interpret these messages, something inside you opens up. The messages become more frequent and at times repetitive to ensure the meaning is properly conveyed. The dreams can become vivid and mysterious, because finally it’s captured your attention. An internal dream maker keen to gift you with some vital truths.
This wisdom is typically greater than anything you could consciously summon yourself, or something you’ve always known but decided to hide away. It knows that there is only one truth. Truth beyond choice and beyond fear. Where accepting this truth will only bring peace and an outcome you couldn’t possibly imagine consciously. In Carl Jung’s words… “you will call it fate”.
So how exactly do you use your dreams to stop overthinking? These are my 4 key steps to achieve this…
Step #1: Value your dreams
Throughout history there are many examples where people’s dreams provide the inspiration which lead to new creations. It’s well known that Demitri Mendeleev saw the entire structure of the periodic table after having a dream. While Elias Howe invented the sewing machine needle when he dreamt of warriors carrying spears with holes near the tips.
Dreams aren’t just random noise. They’re tapping into a secret melody of images. Once you learn how to read the images effectively, and not just dismiss them, you’ll gain life changing insights to redirect your life.
Gaining this understanding and fully accepting dream wisdom is the first step to breaking the cycle of overthinking. Rather than walking up in the morning and dismissing your dream as pure fantasy, instead respect the dream maker’s creativity. It’s just the way he communicates, and the meta-physical messages are symbolic and timeless.
Once you value your dreams and the incredible truths they hold, you’ll notice a natural side-effect, you’ll start to prioritise your unconscious thoughts over your conscious thoughts. In affect you’ll reduce the amount of analytical thinking and you’ll instead start saying… “lets sleep on this problem”.
Step #2: Write them down
The next step is to keep a dream journal by your bedside. I used to wake up in the middle of the night convinced I’d remember every detail of a dream, only to wake in the morning with nothing but a vague head scratch. Writing it down changed everything. A journal became my anchor for recall.
I also kept a dimmable light nearby, bright enough to see, soft enough not to jolt me awake. It wasn’t always easy. When you’re half-asleep and tempted to roll over, the last thing you want is to write. But I understood the value of those messages, so I made the effort regularly.
Step #3: Learn the language
Learning the language of dreams takes patience. It is an ancient tongue, simple yet profound, built on symbols that speak to something deep within us. These images carry meanings that are universal, shared by all humans across time and culture.
The simplest way to begin is by consulting a dream symbol dictionary. A quick search online will reveal countless resources. Looking up the meaning of individual symbols can offer basic guidance on what your inner dream maker is trying to communicate. You can also use AI tools for this, they’re surprisingly good at identifying symbolic patterns and surfacing insights you might otherwise miss.
True interpretation though often requires more than a list of text book definitions. Carl Jung’s methods still remain highly respected, and most modern dream educators draw heavily from his insights. How you choose to learn is a personal discovery, but I recommend exploring Dream School by This Jungian Life.
This course provides a solid foundation for uncovering deeper meaning in your dreams. At first, the complexity of Jungian terminology can feel overwhelming. Push past that hesitation because even a basic understanding can unlock extraordinary insights.
Step #4: Look for Synchronicities
Finally, start paying attention to the little “winks” life sends you throughout the day. These are synchronicities, which occur when two or more events line up with a deeper personal meaning, yet there’s no logical way they should be connected.
Imagine you dream of playing cards with an old friend. The dream unsettles you because, lately, you’ve been struggling with gambling. Then the next day, that same friend randomly calls and invites you to a casino. That’s a classic example of synchronicity. But dreams aren’t always that obvious. More often, the message is hidden in symbols, recurring themes, or emotions that only you can truly decode.
That’s why it’s worth jotting them down in your dream journal. Over time, patterns tend to reveal themselves, and what looked like coincidence starts to feel a lot more like guidance.
By following these four steps, you’ll notice your old thinking patterns begin to fade. Your awareness will strengthen, and you’ll start to challenge the conscious narrative that’s been holding you back from what your deeper mind has been trying to tell you.
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