A dream is mental activity that involves thoughts, images and even emotions during sleep.

On the average, we spend about one-third of our lives sleeping. During sleep, we also dream for a large portion on the time. In fact, we will probably have three or four dreams each night. However, we cannot recollect our dreams because most of them are forgotten almost a few minutes after they occur. Dream amnesia is quite normal unless we wa e up shortly after they occur. !hy do dreams occur" !hen we are awa e, we consciously use our minds to perform various actions. !hen we sleep, our mind are still active although our bodies rela#. Dreams are the result of an active mind when we are asleep. $ertain drugs, medication and alcohol can also cause dreams or nightmares. $ommon dreams include those that involve falling, flying or being chased. In chased-related dreams, we are often running away, hiding and trying to outwit our pursuer. %ometimes dreams may seem very real. !hen we have falling dreams, we feel our body &er , twitch and we are suddenly wa e up. %imilarly, we may wa e up with perspiration and heart palpitations after a nightmare. 'ightmares may indicate a feeling of insecurity in a particular area in the person(s life. %imilarly dreams such as failing one(s e#aminations indicate a period of an#iety of agitation. )he feeling of nervousness, insecurity and frustration that we e#perience during such dreams may parallel our feelings in a particular challenge or situation. Are dreams random firings of our brains and can they offer benefits to us" Dreams may be illusions of our imagination, as a human mind has the ability to con&ure up the myriad of images. )hey may be nonsensical. 'evertheless, they can be entertaining &ust li e a movie. *esides, certain dreams can evo e positive feelings. +,lying( dreams or the ability to fly in our dreams is an e#hilarating and liberating e#perience. Dreams add variety and spice to an otherwise dull and boring life. )he benefits of dreams can be best be summed up in the lines of -angston(s Hughes( poem, .Dreams/0