Inspirational Wedding

Nightmare Before

Nightmares - Your Richest Resource for Personal Growth?

Last night I had a nightmare, but it was different in one important way.

In most distressing dreams, you find yourself in a tough situation and whatever the problem persuing you, it usually grows worse and worse till you wake up in a cold sweat.

But as I say, this one was different.

In the dream, my wife (Shioe) and I had just checked into a hotel. Apparently we had decided to live in this place fulltime (it's a dream, okay), and there I was in the bedroom. Shioe had stepped out on business, and I was alone in this new place.

It wasn't long before I noticed several large bugs crawling around. I tried to get rid of them, but the harder I tried, the more of them came out. Soon they were everywhere - spiders, huge bedbugs and ticks, centipedes, worms and quite a few things I've never even seen before. They were crawling all over everything, including me.

I grew more and more distressed as I kept wondering how I was going to clean out these critters. At one point I thought of calling an exterminator. I looked into my wallet and saw that I didn't have enough money for that. Oh man, what was I going to do?

And it was at this point that my nightmare changed.

It occurred to me, right then, that this was a hotel, and all I had to do was go downstairs and ask the desk clerk to have the room fumigated. So that's exactly what I did -- walked downstairs in complete calm and turned the problem over to the person who could take care of it for me.

Usually when you have a nightmare, it leaves you feeling drained and down, as though you've just been defeated somehow. This time I woke up feeling boyant.

And once awake, I realized that the dream was a wonderful metaphor telling me that nobody has to solve all their endless daily problems through their own conscious effort. And we're not limited to our own resources. Instead, we can turn things over to the "person" who can handle it for us.

We all can do this.

Depending on your particular belief system, that "person" would be your subconscious, superconscious, higher self, Universe, God, Goddess, or whatever feels powerful and right to you.

Now, I haven't always regarded nightmares as helpful. That all changed one night about a year and a half ago.

I had just gone to bed and dozed off.

Apparently I'd already started dreaming because suddenly, I "saw" a huge centipede about 18 inches long (45 cm) (again with the centipedes) crawling across the ceiling toward me.

In fact, it wasn't crawling -- it was rocketing toward me like an arrow shot. The feeling was that something utterly malevalent was coming at me with all the strength and power at its command.

At that point, I sat up yelling my head off. This startled my wife because I'd never done that before.

That dream really unsettled me because it had felt like something had been trying to get at me with undiluted intent. It felt the way a mad dog attack might feel. Pure threat.

Naturally, I spent considerable time thinking about the dream -- hah! try NOT thinking about something like that.

Sometime during the next few days a novel new idea presented itself. I pushed it away again and again, but it kept nudging its way back into my thoughts.

What if the "thing" trying to get at me was NOT bad? What if it was good, but my customary thinking was so rigid and biased that it "saw" the thing as harmful and bad. What if it was my biased ego trying to keep out something good, and misrepresenting its nature?

The more I considered that idea, the more sense it made. Deeply distressing, but not wrong.

So now, every time I have an unpleasant dream, my "normal" reaction is still discomfort and avoidance. But I make myself ignore that reaction, and instead, I hold the dream and look at it for what it may be bringing me.

And believe it or not, this approach has produced dividends.

Last night's nightmare was the latest in a string of such experiences.

Body builders say "no pain, no gain."

Maybe that's a useful maxim for examining our own dreams, too.

Oh, and as a side note, now I find that the mild, non-threatening dreams, after I wake up, are the ones that unsettle me most. They have lessons, too, but a different kind.

Here's a recent example.

About a month ago I dreamed that I was starting up a new business. The details have faded now, but I clearly remember that as I made decisions about how to set up my products and services, my marketing, my advertising and sales, in every case, I chose the safest way.

In other words, instead of doing creative, adventurous things, I stayed squarely in the mainstream, making low-horizon decisions. I stayed squarely entrenched with all the other mediocre, ordinary businesses that won't ever do anything special. I hadn't stretched myself in a single area.

It wasn't till the next day, after I'd thought about that "dream business," that I realized how cowardly and unconfident that kind of behavior is. And that's when the real impact hit me.

I'd spent a good part of the night setting up my "dream business," but it was a nightmare dream business, the kind that's doomed to be small and stay small -- generic in every way, before it ever even gets started.

So here's the lesson from all that dream stuff.

The bad dreams may be about good things that your unconscious is lying to you about, as it tries to keep out change.

And the easy, non-threatening dreams -- well, they may be telling you that you're trying to play your life way too safe.

About the Author

Charles Burke says that "luck" doesn't work the way you've always been told. Not even close. Read "The Synchronicity Report" - a free PDF download -
http://www.2-be.com/synchro

I was wondering if anyone knew where i could a Nightmare Before Christmas tongue ring?

i recently got my tongue pierced and since the Nightmare Before Christmas is my favorite movie i figured id try to find one. Sadly though i have not ive looked everywhere! So if any one has any ideas on where i could get one i'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

well you could try hot topic. and if not go to like a tattoo shop or piercing shop and they should either have one or tell u were to get one! = )

The Nightmare Before Christmas Intro

Nightmare Before Christmas Blanket Sleeve - Halloween Fleece Comfy Throw $19.95 Pattern: Nightmare Before Christmas. Genuine licensed merchandise; Machine washable. Quality fleece material keeps really warm. Lightweight and durable. One blanket/throw with sleeves, finished size 48 x 71 inches (122 x 180 cm)....

Nightmare Before Christmas Movie (Jack, Door) Poster Print - 24x60 $6.80 Nightmare Before Christmas Movie (Jack, Door) Poster Print - 24x60...

Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington Classic Metal Vintage Lunchbox $10.88 Lunchbox - Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Skellington Classic Metal Vintage Lunchbox - Celebrate and display your undying loving for this iconic early 1990s classic animated movie, Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas with this classic styled lunchbox. Made from 100% metal, our lunchbox is designed after the ones you took to school with you when you were a kid and features the movie's main...

Disney's Greatest 3 $10.49 No Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: DISNEYTitle: VOL. 3-DISNEY'S GREATESTStreet Release Date: 08/20/2002...

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas $10.73 No Description Available.Genre: Soundtracks & ScoresMedia Format: Compact DiskRating: Release Date: 24-OCT-2006...

The Nightmare Before Christmas: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack $11.98 Danny Elfman's score, music and lyrics to the early '90s Tim Burton film...

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas [VHS] $4.95 For those who never thought Disney would release a film in which Santa Claus is kidnapped and tortured, well, here it is! The full title is Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, which should give you an idea of the tone of this stop-action animated musical/fantasy/horror/comedy. It is based on characters created by Burton, the former Disney animator best known as the director of Pee-wee's...

The Nightmare Before Christmas - Special Edition (Widescreen) [VHS] $7.51 For those who never thought Disney would release a film in which Santa Claus is kidnapped and tortured, well, here it is! The full title is Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, which should give you an idea of the tone of this stop-action animated musical/fantasy/horror/comedy. It is based on characters created by Burton, the former Disney animator best known as the director of Pee-wee's...

Puppet Master: Amazing Puppet Films By Ladislas Starevitch: The Mascot, Nose to the Wind & Winter Carrousel A compilation of three Ladislas Starevitch animated puppet films. Includes "The Mascot" (1934, black and white), "Nose to the Wind" (1956, color), and "Winter Carousel" (1958, color). Starevitch's film "The Mascot" (aka Duffy the Mascot, aka Puppet Love, aka The Devil's Ball) contains some of the darkest, most disturbing, imagery ever created for the cinema, and is practically guaranteed to unset...

Nightmare Before Christmas Mints in Collectible Tin $2.99 Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" metal tin with peppermints. Features logos of characters from Nightmare Before Christmas on the front. Circular metal tin can fit into your pocket and in your car for when you need some mints....

Nightmare Before Christmas 2004 Lock Shock & Barrel HeadLite $20.00 Head Lites. Decorate your room with these 10-foot long strands of party lights featuring Lock, Shock, and Barrel!...

Nightmare Before Christmas Key Hooks Metal Hilltop $19.95 There's nothing worse than not knowing where to put your keys, and for the NBX fanatic in your life, these hilltop scene key hooks make the perfect gift!...

Nightmare Before Christmas Power Plug Case - Disney Nightmare Before Christmas Multi Purpose Electronic Pouch With Bonus Velcro Power Plug Fastener $18.50 ...

Charlie & Lola Party Thank You Cards with Envelopes, Pack of 8 $16.99 pack of 8 postcard size envelopes included Official U.K. licensed merchandise...

Charlie and Lola party cup cake cases $16.98 ...

Disney Nightmare Before Christms JACK 3D Christmas Card $5.99 ...

Nightmare Before Christmas Jack Antenna Topper 32970 $3.99 Nightmare Before Christmas NBX Jack Skellington Antenna Topper...

JACK SKELLINGTON - Nightmare Before Christmas - Vinyl Car Decal Sticker #1350 | Vinyl Color: Chrome $3.69 ...

Nightmare Before Christmas NBX Zero the Dog Antenna Topper (store) $3.99 Nightmare Before Christmas NBX Zero the Dog Antenna Topper - Features Jack Skellington's trusty ghost dog, Zero!...

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge (Playstation 2) $19.99 Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge is an action-adventure game that continues the story of Jack Skellington and his arch-nemesis, Oogie Boogie. Players take on the role of Jack, who must battle bizarre and vicious enemies in order to stop the diabolical Oogie Boogie from kidnapping the leaders of all the Holidays and establishing himself as king. Armed with the amazing "S...

Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge $9.89 Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie's Revenge is an action-adventure game that continues the story of Jack Skellington and his arch-nemesis, Oogie Boogie. Players take on the role of Jack, who must battle bizarre and vicious enemies in order to stop the diabolical Oogie Boogie from kidnapping the leaders of all the Holidays and establishing himself as king. Armed with the amazing "S...

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Pumpkin King $9.98 TIM BURTON'S THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS: THE PUMPKIN KING is a side scrolling action game that tells the story of the first time Jack Skellington faced off against Oogie Boogie and became the Pumpkin King. Unusual bugs have started to invade Halloween Town and Jack discovers that these evil bugs are under the command of Oogie Boogie, a former holiday leader who is determined to take over Hallo...

Disney Nightmare Before Christmas Mousepad - JACK Mouse Pad Mat $9.99 ...

Nightmare Before Christmas MousePad - Jack Mouse pad w/ Wrist Rest $16.50 Disney Jim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas Computer Supplies - Jack Mousepad, measures 10 x 7.5 in apprx, design with wrist rest that provides maximum wrist support...

Disney Nightmare Before Christmas cell phone pouch with drawstring $10.00 ...

---

A Nightmare Before Christmas $11.93 A Nightmare Before Christmas

Nightmare Before Christmas $5.93 Nightmare Before Christmas

The Nightmare Before Christmas $8.25 Buy and sell [The Nightmare Before Christmas] at great prices.

---