When Life Feels Like a Dream But You Don’t Know How It Ends
Ever had a dream that feels like it’s trying to tell you something?
I had one this week so vivid I’m still processing it.
I started in a fantasy land, way up high, too afraid to look down for fear of falling off the edge.
Then I slid down an icy water slide and shrank to the size of a dot, swimming against a powerful swirling current in a deep pool.
Just as I was getting the hang of it, giants appeared, and I realised I was trapped in a puddle.
Then the real nightmare began. One of those giants who looked like something straight out of Toy Story scooped me up from behind a door and squeezed me. I had no idea what he would do next, but I was terrified he would hand me over to his dog.
Just as my heart started racing, Andy woke me by saying “Tea?”
I snapped back to reality, but the dream stayed with me.
Storytelling in Public Relations
It got me thinking about how our creative and professional lives are a lot like dreams. We can be flying high one minute, feeling small the next, but the key is to keep moving forward, even when we don’t know the ending.
We’ve seen how people can get stuck in their own versions of my dream.
Feeling overwhelmed, unsure, or out of their depth when it comes to communication.
It’s not uncommon to feel like you’re stuck in a situation too big to handle.
Maybe your business story isn’t clear, or your messaging feels scattered.
The reality of effective PR and strategic communication is you get to write the story. You get to reshape the ending.
Think about it. Storytelling is at the heart of everything we do. From creating a brand message, writing an engaging blog or responding to a crisis.
Your Narrative is a Powerful Tool
When you tap into your unique strengths, those superpowers that make your business stand out, you can communicate with confidence, no matter how big the challenges may seem.
As a strategic communicator, we help business find their voice. That could be through creating clear, impactful copy or guiding them through tough communication decisions.
It’s about working through uncertainty, building trust, and finding creative solutions to complex problems – much like rewriting the end of a dream.
Collaboration is key in this process. Just like a dream where different elements come together to shape the outcome, working with the right partners – whether it’s a copywriter, a designer, or a business mentor – can help you refine your message and build a strategy that works.
So next time you feel like you’re swimming against the current or hiding behind a door (because let’s face it, who wouldn’t in a puddle?), remember this: Your story is yours to tell.
With the right support, the right strategy, and a little creativity, you can rewrite your narrative and step confidently into the next chapter.
Will you finish yours with a happy ending?
I Had a Strange Dream, So I Asked AI to Decode It
Naturally I was curious. My dream seemed packed with rich symbolism, shifting perspectives and possibly feeling out of my depth. What on earth did it all mean?
Here’s what ChatGPT ‘thinks’.
Being High Up and Afraid to Look Down
AI: Suggests a feeling of pressure or responsibility, possibly linked to success or being in a position where you fear making a misstep. It could reflect a big goal or opportunity that feels exciting and overwhelming at the same time.
Me: Correct.
Sliding Down a Water/Icy Slide
AI: Slides often symbolise a loss of control or a sudden shift in circumstances. Water, especially icy water, can represent emotions. Perhaps you’re being pulled in a direction you’re not fully prepared for. The fact you shrink afterwards could indicate a shift in how you see yourself in relation to the situation.
Me: Partially correct.
Becoming Tiny and Swimming Against the Current
AI: Feeling small in a vast space could point to imposter syndrome, self-doubt, or feeling overwhelmed by external forces. Swimming against the current suggests resistance. Are you pushing against something that feels too big to tackle alone?
Me: At times.
Realising the Deep Pool is Just a Puddle
AI: This is an interesting twist. It suggests that something that felt massive and unmanageable might not be as daunting as it seemed. This could indicate a shift in perspective, where you realise that a challenge isn’t as scary or insurmountable as it first appeared.
Me: Correct.
The Giant Picking You Up and Squeezing You
AI: Giants in dreams often symbolise powerful forces or external pressures. Maybe a demanding situation, a big client, or even your own expectations. The squeezing could represent feeling trapped, scrutinised, or pressured.
Me: I am fully aware of the pressure I put on ‘me’.
The Fear of Being Given to the Dog
AI: Dogs often symbolise loyalty, protection, or instinctive emotions, but in this case, your fear suggests a lack of control over your fate. It could reflect a worry that something you care about (your work, ideas, or identity) might be handed over to someone or something else, leaving you feeling vulnerable.
Me: Possibly.
Andy Waking You Up with “Tea?”
AI: This part grounds you back in reality, suggesting that whatever stress or challenge you’re dealing with is temporary and manageable. The contrast between the intense dream and the casual wake-up moment could be a reminder that sometimes we build things up in our minds, but in the real world, solutions are often simple.
Me: Correct.
What Does It All Mean?
AI: Your dream might be reflecting a feeling of being out of your depth in some area of life or business. Maybe juggling multiple projects, facing big decisions, or dealing with unexpected challenges. But the key takeaway? Things aren’t always as overwhelming as they seem.
It also touches on perspective shifts. What seems like a deep, powerful force could turn out to be something much smaller and more manageable once you step back and see the bigger picture.
Me: Correct.
The Link to Creativity & Business
AI: If you connect it to your work, it could relate to moments where you feel like you need to navigate uncertainty, adapt, and find your way through challenges. All key aspects of PR, copywriting, and strategic comms.
Creativity itself often feels like swimming against the current, but the realisation that the deep pool is just a puddle suggests that once you shift your mindset, everything falls into place.
Me: Correct.
My key takeaway from this?
You may feel small in the moment, but you have more control than you think.
Keep going, shift your perspective, and trust that the giants aren’t always as scary as they seem.