FREE ESSAY ON CREATIVITY IN DREAMS

CREATIVITY IN DREAMS

creativity in dreams 
Creativity in Dreams The mind at its Creative Peak "That which the dream shows is the
shadow of such wisdom as exists in man, even if during his waking state he may know
nothing about it..... We do not know it because we are fooling away our time with outward
and perishing things, and are sleep in regard to that which is real within
ourselves."-Paracles The quote on dreams, taken out of the novel by Ann Faraday entitled
The Dream Game, sums up the necessity for the dream and the importance of our creativity
in the dream state. Not only is it imperative to understand this importance of
creativity, but to ask and find out how this process we call dreaming takes place. One
can accomplish this task by using a step by step approach to dreams. First looking at the
mind from a psychological standpoint and then moving on to the creative process and how
it is involved in dreaming. Ultimately, one will move to see that in a dream, the mind is
at its creative peak because the mind is unconsciously opening doors to information
processed during the day that has been unknowingly passed over. The mind is probably one
of the most complex systems in the body and is constantly being studied. Though much is
still to be understood, scientists have been able to watch carefully and see how the
dream images are produced. Many experts say that more information is processed in a
dreaming brain that in the awake state (Faraday 17). The brainstem generates signals (PGO
Waves) with sensory information, the brainstem responds to the signals, but is not
activated. These images are the sources of dream images. Although a brainstem is not
activated, the signals do trigger a system called the Central Motor Pattern Generator,
during REM sleep, which causes the sensation of movement during ones dreams (Hobson 162).
REM sleep occurs every 90 minutes of the sleeping state, beginning first, with short
activity and increasing with each passing period. REM periods are when the eyes move back
and forth underneath the eyelids according to the brain activity in dreaming (Faraday
20). Not only is there a complicated process in the production of the dream image, but
also as the brainstem is producing signals it causes a reaction called A.S.H. which
creates the contents of ones dreams. A.S.H. or Activation-synthesis Hypothesis is the
loss of a neurotransmitter that chemically charges the mind to process information
differently (Hobson 164-5). These neurotransmitter's help creativity in dreams, but are
not always used to their full potential. 95%-99% of dreams are forgotten because the
aminergic neurotransmitters are blocked in REM sleep. However, when awaked in the REM
state the transmitters are opened and information is recorded and remembered; creativity
during the dream period is utilized (Hobson 166). The creative process is looked at from
two main views. The first is that the creative process is not enhanced by dreaming, but
when one is asleep, stress is not invading the mind and therefore it is free to think;
that is the illusion of the mind being more creative. Stress is something that affects
everyone almost every day. When applied to the creative thought process, it is easy to
see how it can become a wall that is difficult to push through. The dream content can be
traced to the current ongoing of the individuals life, before sleep, and to the emotional
level of the dreamer on the subsequent morning. In a dream, events, thoughts and feelings
are reflected, that are passed by because we are not aware to catch them; we are to
stressed (Faraday 4). Stress comes from many sources in life such as home, work, and one
of the most common among young adults and kids is school. When in deeper, longer period
of REM sleep, stress is less and less a factor. This relief, during REM awakening dreams,
leads to more bizarre dreams that include more physical and emotional activity. Each
sense, in a dream state, is enhanced when awakened during REM cluster (Hobson 155-6).
When this view of creativity in dreams is opened, stress is simply shown to be the cause
of suppressing the mind and blocking the creative/problem solving ability in the awake
state. The second approach to the subject of creativity in dreams, is that the mind is
unconsciously opening doors to the information that we pass over each day, but
unknowingly process. Brain-wave records show, that the dreaming brain is more active than
the one that is awake. Therefore, these records prove that when dreaming, the brain has
more capacity for greater work in a given time. (Faraday 17-19). The records are recorded
during the REM phase of sleep, when the brain seems to be the most active (the creative
peaks of sleep). These Rapid Eye Movements, caused by the brain activity, occur three or
four times a night (Faraday 19). Many experts have studied the psychological activity
that causes the brain to be more creative in sleep. Another point that is used to support
this view, is that in dreams, the mind is not limited by physical laws and this allows
impossible solutions and new ideas to arise. Dreams are a private space that allows the
mind to become creative and not worry about the possibility of receiving criticism from
others. The possibility of the brain understanding knowledge the has been unknowingly
processed during the day, in sleep, is the most probable view for creativity in sleep.
Creative dreaming is not just the release of stress, but it is a way in which our body
works to help us see things we pass over freely explore all of the impossible
possibilities. Each person who has a major success in creative dreaming has devoted much
of their time to solve the issue, and by being prepared and working hard, they become
emotionally involved in the problem (Stone 150). Throughout history, there have been a
number of famous people, who have attributed some of their success to creativity in their
dreams. It was because of their dedication to their work that the dream process was so
vivid. Friedrich Kekule was an organic chemist who had been studying the atomic structure
of the benzene molecule. He had almost given up, but in a dream, one night, he saw two
snakes from a ring-like structure. Upon his awakening, he realized that the rings were
the structure of benzene molecule and he had solved the missing link. Elias Howe is
another example of dedication and emotional work to solve an impossible possibility. He
was looking for the final solution to his automated sewing machine and found it when he
fell asleep. His bizarre dream was of savages throwing spears at him and chasing him due
to his failure to finish this machine. He realized that the spearheads contained holes in
them and therefore the answer to his sewing machine, a hole in the sharp end of the
needle (Stone 149-150). Sleep has specific functions and shows our perceptions and views,
feelings and thoughts that are stored and coded in the juices created by 100 billion
nerve cells around the clock (Hobson 1-2). The creative process is a difficult thing to
work out but when studied one can see that it is truly enhanced and brought out in the
dream state. Not only by looking at the Physiological records of brain study, but at the
many examples of those who allow their creativity to be expressed. Creativity is enhanced
whether one chooses to pay attention to it, or not. Each person has the capacity to learn
much from their creative dreaming, if they would only think more creatively and openly
when awake. The lesson to learn is, the most miniscule thing you must pass by each day,
can often be the key to solving the impossible possibilities. Creatively dream, do not
let them pass you twice. I myself have never had a dream that solved a great problem but
I have had dreams that show me the way I feel towards others. I think it is true that the
mind is most creative and open when dreaming because in a dream it shows me my feelings
in the most creative ways. I also notice I dream about many things which I do not really
take notice of throughout the day.