Daydreaming Unlock the Creative Power of Your Mind

by F. Diane Barth

Much has been written on the significance and interpretation of nighttime dreams, but what about dreams that occur during the day? Here is the first book to explore this rarely researched phenomenon--a habit that can occupy thirty to forty percent of our waking hours and one that offers valuable clues to discovering personal happiness and satisfaction. Drawing on actual cases from her own extensive studies in the area, psychoanalyst F. Diane Barth guides readers toward an understanding and appreciation of their daydreams. She explains the significance of not only a daydream's content but the context in which it occurred. Numerous helpful exercises show readers how to decode the messages contained in their daydreams, how to tap into suppressed emotions and thoughts, and how to keep a daydream diary. Most important, Daydreaming disproves the notion that these diurnal reveries are a waste of time. In fact, as Barth points out, daydreams can provide comfort and relaxation, enhance self-esteem, act as a new tool for creativity, or point the way toward the resolution of a nagging problem.

Genres: Nonfiction

210 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

Reviews

[Lora Shouse]

The idea of this book is that you can use your daydreams to understand your own psychological issues.

The author maintains that our daydreams often have consistent patterns, just as was pointed out for night dreams in another book I recently read, The Talking Cure. These patterns can be used to understand your personal meanings, and to whatever extent you can use that to change your ways of reacting to things, you can improve your personal situation.

In this case, the author also provides questions you can ask yourself to get at the hidden meanings behind your daydreams so you can understand them on your own. The people in the case studies she cites were able to pick up on the connections between daydreams to understand what their real issues were in what appears to be a relatively short time (although I suspect some of them may have been in therapy for a while and so had practice in this aspect of treatment).

[Dianne Trautmann]

don't know how I got this book. Found it on my bookshelf while I was purging out books. Quick read. Interesting take on analyzing your day dreams to help you get at the root of what's really bothering you, or how you are dealing/not dealing with situations.