--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is more helpful to think of dreams as…" description: "\"It is more helpful to think of dreams as reflections of the present rather than as pictures of the future. A dream of a car out of control, for example..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-mcphee-41373_accidents_it-is-more-helpful-to-think-of-dreams-as_2324905.jpg" --- # It is more helpful to think of dreams as reflections of… ![“It is more helpful to think of dreams as reflections of the present rather than as pictures of the future. A dream of a car out of control, for example, does not indicate that a car accident will occur in the future. It does mean, however, that the dreamer is feeling out of control in his or her…” quote by Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-mcphee-41373_accidents_it-is-more-helpful-to-think-of-dreams-as_2324905.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-mcphee-41373_accidents_it-is-more-helpful-to-think-of-dreams-as_2324905.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/729/charles-mcphee-41373_accidents_it-is-more-helpful-to-think-of-dreams-as_2324905.jpg) > “It is more helpful to think of dreams as reflections of the present rather than as pictures of the future. A dream of a car out of control, for example, does not indicate that a car accident will occur in the future. It does mean, however, that the dreamer is feeling out of control in his or her life right now. It is important not to be superstitious about dreams.” [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dreams mirror current emotions and situations rather than predicting future events; they reveal present feelings of loss of control. **In simple terms:** Dreams reflect present feelings, not future outcomes. Key Takeaway Recognize and address current stress instead of fearing future predictions. Themes dreams psychology self‑awareness control interpretation Mood introspective calming Type therapeutic insightful When to use this quote - stress management - therapy sessions - journaling - mindfulness practice - relationship counseling Key Concepts symbolic meaning emotional processing cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - What current stress is your dream highlighting? - How can you regain a sense of control? A Different Perspective Dream analysis can be misused for superstition. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreamer/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Reflection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reflection/) [Superstitious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/superstitious/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When there is nothing to desire, there is nothing to dream about either, because dreams are reflections of your desires. Dreams are reflections of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/when-there-is-nothing-to-desire-there-is-nothing-to-dream-about/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [“Think of the future. Dream of the future. Live for the future. Risk all. Give all. Exceed all. Win all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/think-of-the-future-dream-of-the-future-live-for-the-future-risk-all/) [Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/) > [The dreams that you hold for your future are what you dream you at night. they always hold the stories untold. they keep you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brina/the-dreams-that-you-hold-for-your-future-are-what-you-dream-you-at/) Brina > [“If he or she doesn't see or respect your present value nor your future dream the moment you connected there is little or no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-kelvin-clive/if-he-or-she-doesn-t-see-or-respect-your-present-value-nor-your/) [Bernard Kelvin Clive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-kelvin-clive/) > [Somewhere in my Past was a Nightmare and something in the Future is my Dream but, I Live in the Reality of Today...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherry-diaz/somewhere-in-my-past-was-a-nightmare-and-something-in-the-future-is/) [Cherry Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherry-diaz/) > [The past is history , the present a gift and the future a dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-lipshitz/the-past-is-history-the-present-a-gift-and-the-future-a-dream/) Jason Lipshitz > [“The past is a ghost, the future is a dream, all we ever have is now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/the-past-is-a-ghost-the-future-is-a-dream-all-we-ever-have-is-now/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [God has more for you in your future than you could ever dream of in your present and he's already seen you in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-parsley/god-has-more-for-you-in-your-future-than-you-could-ever-dream-of-in/) [Rod Parsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-parsley/) > [In the future, IKEA will become an ever more spiritual sanctuary. In the future, your dream life will increasingly look like Google street view.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/in-the-future-ikea-will-become-an-ever-more-spiritual-sanctuary-in/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [What Takes Us to the PAST is the MEMORY… What takes Us to the FUTURE is DREAM…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-irons/what-takes-us-to-the-past-is-the-memory-what-takes-us-to-the-future/) [Jeremy Irons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-irons/) > [“The past is a ghost, the future is a dream, and all we ever have is now.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/the-past-is-a-ghost-the-future-is-a-dream-and-all-we-ever-have-is-now/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [When I think back to what my dreams were as a kid, the only one I had was to play for England.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-southgate/when-i-think-back-to-what-my-dreams-were-as-a-kid-the-only-one-i-had/) [Gareth Southgate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-southgate/) > [An anniversary says, "Think of the dreams you have weathered together. They are intimate accomplishments."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/an-anniversary-says-think-of-the-dreams-you-have-weathered-together/) [Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/) > [I think What Dreams May Come is the most important (read effective) book I've written. It has caused a number of readers to lose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-matheson/i-think-what-dreams-may-come-is-the-most-important-read-effective/) [Richard Matheson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-matheson/) > [When I think of my dreams, I think about what a young trans child wants, which is just representation, and access to information.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-consani/when-i-think-of-my-dreams-i-think-about-what-a-young-trans-child/) [Alex Consani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-consani/) ## More by Charles McPhee > [Men and women dream the same amount. The main difference in dream content relates to biology and life events. Women dream about their fertility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/men-and-women-dream-the-same-amount-the-main-difference-in-dream/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [Dreams are selfish, in the sense that they always concern issues and events that were weighing on your mind at the time you had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/dreams-are-selfish-in-the-sense-that-they-always-concern-issues-and/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [The goal of dream study is to increase one's contact with and access to the abilities of their subconscious mind. I became interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/the-goal-of-dream-study-is-to-increase-one-s-contact-with-and-access/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [Dreams are more personal. We tend to only dream about issues that impact us directly: our careers, our marriage, our children, our family and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/dreams-are-more-personal-we-tend-to-only-dream-about-issues-that/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [Dreams are practical reflections of feelings and concerns that were present in your mind at the time you had the dream. You are smart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/dreams-are-practical-reflections-of-feelings-and-concerns-that-were/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [Dreams are more original than images we see in the media, and are surprisingly unaffected by media. For example, the average person watches several…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/dreams-are-more-original-than-images-we-see-in-the-media-and-are/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [By understanding the meaning of common dreams, you can identify issues that want your attention in your waking life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/by-understanding-the-meaning-of-common-dreams-you-can-identify-issues/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [Everybody dreams, but memory for dreams is famously elusive. Even Sigmund Freud, without the benefit of modern technology's electroencephalogram, or EEG, did not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/everybody-dreams-but-memory-for-dreams-is-famously-elusive-even/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) > [Dreams are self-created, but dreamers often do not understand the images that their own minds produce. Therein lays the essential paradox of dreams; dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-mcphee/dreams-are-self-created-but-dreamers-often-do-not-understand-the/) [Charles McPhee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) [Explore all 10 Charles McPhee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-mcphee/) ## More Accidents quotes > [Almost all accidents take place because of human distraction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-thrun/almost-all-accidents-take-place-because-of-human-distraction/) [Sebastian Thrun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-thrun/) > [It was no accident, no coincidence, that the seasons came round and round year after year. 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I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/i-made-out-with-a-homeless-guy-by-accident-i-had-no-idea-he-was/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [In a city where you walk around, it's impossible to plan your day and your life as accidents will happen, you'll overhear things, bump…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-schwartzman/in-a-city-where-you-walk-around-it-s-impossible-to-plan-your-day-and/) [Jason Schwartzman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-schwartzman/) > [I don't think it's by accident that I was first attracted to translating two French women poets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-hacker/i-don-t-think-it-s-by-accident-that-i-was-first-attracted-to/) [Marilyn Hacker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-hacker/) > [Despite my mentors advice that I would never go to heaven fishing with a weighted nymph and a float, I took it up. (As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bishop/despite-my-mentors-advice-that-i-would-never-go-to-heaven-fishing/) [Tony Bishop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bishop/) > [Dont stand outside in a lightning shower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padraig/dont-stand-outside-in-a-lightning-shower/) [Padraig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padraig/) > [In the eyes of those lovers of perfection, a work is never finished a word that for them has no sense but abandoned; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-valery/in-the-eyes-of-those-lovers-of-perfection-a-work-is-never-finished-a/) [Paul Valery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-valery/) > [My musical career was an accident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sade-adu/my-musical-career-was-an-accident/) [Sade Adu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sade-adu/) [Browse all 1,971 Accidents quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accidents/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is more helpful to think of dreams as reflections of the present rather than as pictures of the future. 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