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Ikigai: The Japanese Philosophy for Purposeful Living

People often say that finding purpose is the foundation of a healthy and more fulfilling life. Yet for millions of people, purpose feels elusive, like some far-off destination, an epiphany waiting for divine intervention.Narratives around living the life of your dreams can package purpose in a very set way, telling stories of a select few who were lucky enough to find their purpose, and never looked back.All of these assumptions about purpose make it both intimidating and seemingly unattainable. Factor in cultural ideas of what purpose looks like — from starting a billion-dollar venture in Silicon Valley to living a life in service of the greater good — and you’ll likely be left feeling frustrated, or confused, about how to add purpose to your life.Fortunately, these assumptions are misleading. Purpose is much easier to attain than it seems on the surface. And, thankfully, the Japanese concept of ikigai makes discovering your purpose practical. There’s no need to wait for a eureka moment, or yearn for the day purpose will arrive on your doorstep. With ikigai as your own personal Japanese secret, you can start taking deliberate steps to add purpose to your days and inhabit a more happy life. This article will show you how you can start your own personal ikigai journey. Let’s get started!What is the Japanese concept of Ikigai?The best translation for ikigai (pronounced “ee key guy”) is “a reason for being.” The term is formed from the Japanese words iki (life) and gai (worth or benefit).Ikigai is central to Japanese culture, with its origin stretching all the way back to the Heian period, a period of classical Japanese history lasting between the years 794 and 1185.American researcher Dan Buettner, who presented the popular Ted Talk How to Live to 100, identified ikigai as one of the main factors for greater longevity in Japan. Buettner popularized the concept in the West in the early 2000s.Long before then, Japanese psychiatrist Mieko Kamiya, the Mother of Ikigai, wrote one of the most popular modern-day books on the philosophy, Ikigai-ni-Tsuite (What Makes Our Life Worth Living), in 1966. This was around the time early positive psychology was born. Psychologists such as Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, and Viktor Frankl shifted the paradigm of psychology away from pathology, and towards what makes for a fulfilling, meaningful life.(Getty)Moving towards a more meaningful lifeKamiya herself compared ikigai to Frankl’s approach to meaning. Both were well-versed in how suffering could lead to personal growth. Frankl from his time spent in concentration camps during the Holocaust, and Kamiya worked with leprosy patients. Kamiya described ikigai as:“Ikigai means ‘power necessary for one to live in this world, happiness to be alive, benefit, effectiveness.’ When we try to translate it into English, German, French etc, it seems that there is no other way to define it other than ‘worth living’ or ‘value or meaning to live’. Thus, compared to philosophical theoretical concepts, the word ikigai shows us how ambiguous the Japanese language is, but because of this it has an effect of reverberation and amplitude.”She acknowledged that “the fact that this word exists should indicate that the goal to live, its meaning and value within the daily life of the Japanese soul has been problematized.” In other words, the word exists because modern-living, to some degree, has disconnected people from their innate sense of purpose, or their soul’s calling.Kamiya further defines ikigai into two categories — the source of ikigai, and the state of mind someone feels when connected to the source (ikigai-kan). For Kamiya, ikigai-kan is linked to Frankl’s concept of meaning. In life, a person’s mission is to connect to their mission. Failure to do so can result in depression or anxiety.In order to become clear on this mission, Kamiya suggested two questions:What is my existence for?What is the purpose of my existence?Gaining ClarityOnce clarity is gained, ikigai becomes the North Star that you are guided to. The journey itself is what’s important, not the final destination. Those who are moving towards that North Star experience a sense of fulfillment, ikigai-kan.Kamiya was careful to note those pursuing their purpose weren’t always distinguished people — someone can be in service to ikigai when raising children, teaching at schools, or working in medicine. What’s most important is that a person is able to connect to their purpose, and honor it, in whichever way is unique to them.For Kamiya, the process of clarifying and honoring their soul’s calling is the discovery of a new theme of existence. For many people, this process could unfold during a spiritual awakening, where their motivations radically transform. For others, it could be a slight, but noticeable change of direction.Ikigai and Maslow’s hierarchy of needsIn addition to parallels between Frankl’s work on the value of meaning, Kamiya also discovered that to experience ikigai-kan, someone must first have several personal needs met. The result is a similar model of thinking to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which outlines the journey of growth and self-actualization.The needs Kamiya identified are:The need for life satisfactionThe need for change and growthThe need for a bright futureThe need for resonanceThe need for freedomThe need for self-actualizationThe need for meaning and valueThese closely resemble Maslow’s pyramid of physiological needs, safety needs, love and belonging, esteem, self-actualization, and self-transcendence (the often forgotten additional layer). It’s worth keeping in mind, though, that Maslow noted for some, lower levels can be transcended by higher values, such as creativity being more important than safety needs or esteem.The same can be said of ikigai — if your mission or purpose is something greater than you, it’s likely that it can overshadow other personal needs and contribute to well being.Why is Ikigai important for a fulfilling life?As Buettner discovered, meaning is one of the most influential factors in living a long and healthy life, both for younger generations and those that are older. Buettner has researched so-called Blue Zones, the locations where people lived for longer and enjoyed greater wellbeing.Five locations Buettner discovered were Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California. He noticed that these five locations placed a lot of emphasis on meaning and purpose.This has been backed up by multiple studies. A 2014 UCL-led study of 9,000 people with an average age of 65 found that those with a greater sense of meaning and purpose were 30 percent less likely to die in the following eight-year period. More recently in 2019, a study of 7,000 people over the age of 50 found “life purpose was significantly associated with all-cause mortality.” So much so, the lowest scorers of the study were twice as likely to have died than those with the highest scores five years later.The power of ikigaiNoriyuki Nakashi, from Osaka University, explains the power of ikigai as:“Ikigai is personal: it reflects the inner self of an individual and expresses that faithfully.Ikigai, which is the highest level of desire, may be considered to be essentially the process of cultivating one’s inner potential and that which makes one's life significant, a universal human experience we all wish to achieve.”Purpose gives you a deeper reason for living, it makes your life significant. As noted by thinkers such as Kamiya and Frankl, there is an interesting component to this — it appears, deep down, each of us has a purpose that we intuitively know and understand. Our mission is to listen to that calling and do all we can to honor it, in order to cultivate our inner potential.Longevity is a byproduct of doing something right. Purpose gives you the energy and inspiration to pursue your goals, overcome struggle, and keep going when times are tough. It provides strong foundations of fulfillment and can give your life a new direction, not towards fleeting happiness, but towards things of high value. In the words of Oscar Wilde: “To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.”Understanding the Ikigai chart and your own ikigai journeyAre you ready for your mind to be blown by ikigai, the Japanese secret that so many swear by? For your understanding of ikigai to take a drastic u-turn into a new theme of existence? The ikigai venn diagram, shared by millions and rising to meme-like popularity on social media, isn’t linked to ikigai. Instead, it was an idea from Marc Winn, an entrepreneur and blogger who merged the idea of ikigai with a venn diagram of purpose.Winn was introduced to the concept of ikigai and the ikigai diagram from Buettner’s Ted Talk. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” he wrote in 2017, “less than an hour of my time has made more of a difference in the world than all my time put together.”Winn acknowledges his own surprise that his idea, and the diagram, spiraled out of control. The diagram is shown below:While the venn diagram is incredibly useful, there’s one major downside — the true meaning of ikigai isn’t about making money. The diagram might be valuable in understanding how you can launch a career of meaning, but in many ways, it’s the result of ikigai running through the money-oriented worldview of the West.In fact, a 2010 study of 2,000 people in Japan found that only a third saw work as their ikigai. In addition, the Japanese translation of life means both your lifespan, and everyday life. This leads to another possible misinterpretation — ikigai can be discovered in the simple, day-to-day joys of living, not a grandiose plan or life mission worthy of Hollywood fame. It’s a spectrum of joy, from the seemingly mundane to the miraculous, and everything between.The five pillars of ikigaiSo if the ikigai isn’t discovered through a venn diagram, how do you apply the concept to your life? In The Little Book of Ikigai, Japanese neuroscientist and author Ken Mogi offers a five-pillar framework. By following this framework, you’re able to cultivate the type of lifestyle that allows for the emergence of ikigai:Pillar One: Start SmallDiscovering a new theme of existence begins with small steps. That could be as simple as making the inner commitment to start creating a life of enhanced purpose.What changes could you make, today, to start that process? Is there a passion, or calling, that you sense on the periphery of your awareness? What could you do in order to start honoring that? Remember, purpose doesn’t have to be elaborate or grand.Applying Kamiya’s work, you could journal and answer the two questions: what is my existence for? What is the purpose of my existence? Don’t think about it too much, just see what surfaces.Additionally, consider what things in life are the source of ikigai, or when are the moments when you feel ikigai-kan. For me, writing is the source of both. Although now established as a writer, in the beginning, it started with a commitment to write a little every day.Pillar Two: Releasing YourselfThis pillar demonstrates how deep the philosophy of ikigai is, and its entanglement with other Eastern philosophies that have stood the test of time, such as Buddhism. (Getty)Releasing yourself means to let go of all the things in life you hold onto, that cause some form of suffering.It’s similar to the Buddhist practices of non-attachment. Are you attached to your self-image, what other people think of you, or always thinking about a time you’ll finally be happy?Releasing yourself requires accepting where you’re at, who you are, and the moment in front of you. It leads to a state of peaceful surrender, going with the flow, rather than grappling with life.Ikigai is, after all, a practice of aligning with nature. “The greatest secret of the ikigai, ultimately, has to be the acceptance of oneself, no matter what kind of unique features one might happen to be born with,” Mogi writes.Pillar Three: Harmony and SustainabilityThis step is connected to your environment. Ikigai incorporates the people in our lives, our immediate community, the quality and sustainability of all living things we interact with.As Mogi says, “A man is like a forest; individual and yet connected and dependent on others for growth.” Harmony and sustainability are both inner and outer experiences, reflected in your emotions, your thoughts, the way you interact with the world, the way you go about your work.(Getty)Consider any area of life where there is disharmony. Perhaps you have a few relationships that cause friction, or you are pushing yourself to extremes, unable to sustain that approach to hustle culture for the long term. In what ways can you invite a more peaceful approach? How can you be the source of harmony, for yourself, and for the wider world around you?That doesn’t have to mean being half-hearted in what you do, quite the opposite, as ikigai encourages commitment and passion in equal measure. But make sure not to fall into traps of seriousness, and keep an explorative, playful attitude to yourself, your relationships, your community, and your work.Pillar Four: The Joy of Little ThingsIkigai is a comprehensive philosophy, as well as being an antidote to a lot of modern approaches to finding happiness through constant striving, or the craving for success or recognition.Deeply embedded in the Japanese concept is finding joy in little things. Your morning coffee. A smile from a stranger. An unexpected spell of sunshine. A message from a friend you’ve not spoken to in a while. A delicious sip of energizing green tea. All of these are opportunities to enjoy small sparks of joy, sparks that pave the way for a life in honor of ikigai.(Getty)As Kamiya notes, those dedicated to ikigai spend all their days in fulfillment. Yes, there might be a challenging process of realizing your calling, and adjusting your life to make sure you have supreme focus on fulfilling your potential. But ikigai isn’t about the end destination, it’s about smelling the flowers on the way.The easiest way to do this is to look for gratitude in your life. What things bring you a sense of comfort? What in your life would you have never predicted or thought you’d be able to achieve? What have you overcome? Who adds laughter or who supports you? All of these reflections of gratitude support the feeling of ikigai-kan.Pillar Five: Being in the Here and NowTo reaffirm the intention of ikigai, and its link to mindfulness, the final pillar reminds us to be present. To pause. To become fully aware of what’s directly in front of us. To take things one step at a time, and notice when our minds get caught in the past, or jump ahead to the future. The more present you become, the richer life is, the more nourishing each moment, and the less fearful you become about uncertain futures.The irony of trying to find happiness is that it keeps us always looking ahead, waiting for a moment to come. But as many Eastern philosophies have taught, that is an illusion. Only the present ever exists. And the more you’re able to truly arrive in the present moment, the more likely you will be to experience deeper fulfillment.Ikigai is a philosophy that reminds us that, with a brief pause, a moment of gratitude for the small things, acceptance for who we are and where we’re at. Then you might end up finding purpose where you never expected it — right in front of you.Right here, right now. If you have any unanswered questions click here, and good luck on your journey!

Grandmother and Grandson Hate Each Other for 10 YearsUntil She Agrees to His Wild Idea
Motivation

Grandmother and Grandson Hate Each Other for 10 YearsUntil She Agrees to His Wild Idea

For the past seven and a half years, grandma and grandson duo Joy, 93, and Brad Ryan, 42, have had one goal — to visit every single one of the United States National Parks, all 63 of them.They finally did it. Last week, they reached their final destination, setting foot in the National Park of American Samoa in the South Pacific. Not only was it a dream come true but it also landed Grandma Joy in the history books as the oldest person to visit every U.S. National Park. Go Grandma Joy!However, the journey wasn't just about ticking off destinations on a checklist or making a world record, it was a journey of love, connection, reconciliation, and healing.The Road That Brought Them HereIn 2015, Joy, then 85 years old, was working at a minimum-wage job at a deli in Duncan Falls, Ohio according to PEOPLE. A mother of three and grandmother of four, the extent of her traveling had consisted of going on fishing trips with her late husband and watching the Travel Channel.Joy spent a lifetime living in the same small town, without ever seeing a mountain or dipping her toes in an ocean. That is, until her grandson, Brad, came along and changed it all. After being estranged from each other for nearly a decade following the "ugly divorce" of Brad's parents, he reached out to Joy to rekindle their once close relationship.It was during one of their frequent conversations that Brad learned his grandmother regretted not traveling more. Shortly after that, a fellow student at veterinary college took his own life. "It hit me really hard and took a mental toll, I empathized with being in a dark place myself and I was feeling hopeless," Brad told the BBC.Brad called his grandma and asked her if she wanted to go on a road trip to the Smoky Mountains. Her response? "What time are you picking me up."The Start of a Great Adventure It was meant to be a one-off, but it turned out to be the start of a great adventure. Bit by the wanderlust bug, the intergenerational duo decided to pack their bags and hit the open road.And so began "Grandma Joy's Road Trip." In 2019, they decided to share their travels with the world, documenting them on Instagram where they have amassed nearly 80,000 followers along for the ride. Their adventures took them from Alaska to Hawaii. The Grand Canyon to the Florida Everglades. Yellowstone to the South Pacific. And literally every single National Park in between. They slept in tents, went white water rafting and ziplining, scaled mountains, rolled down sand dunes, got trapped in a herd of Bison, sat beside an alligator, and were even charged by a moose.They saw caverns and deserts, the Redwoods, and waterfalls. Additionally, they visited the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument, the White House, Wrigley Field, and more. But the journey wasn't just a physical one. It was a psychological one too. "It gave me a purpose in life that my academic and professional accomplishments never could," Brad said. "Nature allowed us to heal some deep wounds in our relationship and we have been able to forge an unbreakable bond. We taught each other how to forgive."Defying the Assumptions of the Limits of AgingGrandma Joy's life hasn't been without heartache. She lost her husband of 45 years, Bob, to cancer in 1994. A week later, she took a job stocking shelves at the local grocery store to make ends meet.Two years later, she lost her two youngest sons and she lost her third son, Brad's father, just two weeks before the duo accomplished their mission. Yet through it all, she has managed to live up to her name and find JOY. "She has already lived from a place of gratitude and joy. And that's a choice that she made," Brad said. "That's a power that we all have and a choice that we all have. And I think that's been my greatest lesson."As we get older it can be harder to find that joy and chase our dreams. We get caught up in thinking it's too late, we've missed our chance.But as Grandma Joy proves, the only time it's really too late is the moment we take our last breath and reach our life's final destination.And while Grandma Joy and Brad are looking at the end of one great adventure, they are facing it with gratitude."Reaching our 63rd and final U.S. National Park is bittersweet, with an emphasis on the 'sweet.' Standing at the finish line in American Samoa affirms that seemingly impossible goals are in fact possible if you pursue them with passion and pure intention," Brad told Good Morning America. "Grandma Joy has taught the world that you are never too old to show up and live the adventurous life of your dreams."Brad RyanWhat’s Next for Grandma Joy and Her Grandson Brad?Over the past seven years, Grandma Joy and Brad traveled over 50,000 miles and they're not stopping now. It may be the end of a chapter but it's not the end of their story. Up next? The world."Now that we have visited every U.S. National Park, we have our eyes set on the world, hopefully reaching all seven continents," Brad said. "We are headed to Kenya for a National Geographic expedition in July. I wouldn't be surprised to see Grandma Joy flying through space or walking on the moon. This is what 93 should look like if we're lucky enough to live as long as she has."As Grandma Joy says, "It's amazing what you see out there. Give you a whole different outlook on your life, I'll tell you that."Life is an adventure, go out and live it.

Immigrant Janitor Graduates From Nursing School - And Works at the Same Hospital He Used to Clean
Uplifting News

Immigrant Janitor Graduates From Nursing School - And Works at the Same Hospital He Used to Clean

Turning your dreams to reality doesn’t happen overnight. It takes long days and years of focus to become who you hope to be. Recently, one immigrant from Dominican Republic actualized his childhood dream.Why One Young Man Became a Janitor at a HospitalPhoto by Jon Tyson on UnsplashFrank Baez came to America at 14 years old. At the time, Frank didn’t speak English but he quickly learned during high school. At 17 years old, Frank got a job as a weekend custodian at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital. He was doing all he could to help his family succeed in a new country.Working in the hospital was the fast-paced environment that young Frank was looking for, even though it was just a role as a janitor. Eventually, Frank got a job in patient transport, taking patients to various tests and procedures. In this role, Frank was more able to interact with patients and help them. It was around this time that Frank fell in love with the medical field.“He was always compassionate to patients and families,” said Nataly Pasklinsky, the current director of simulation learning at the NYU nursing school. “He would ask the nurses questions about patient care and what it takes to become a nurse. My colleagues and I encouraged him to follow his dream.”While working at the hospital, Frank received a bachelor’s degree from Hunter College. He graduated in Spanish literature with a minor in biological sciences, becoming the first member of his family to graduate college.How One Man Proved the Importance of Following Your Dreams After college, Frank continued to work at the hospital as a unit clerk. He was able to work closely with the nurses and pick their brains. “I felt inspired by them to become a nurse, so I told them ‘I want to be a nurse like you guys,’” he said. “I was inspired by their work and everything they do for their patients.”Frank then enrolled himself into an accelerated 15-month nursing program. He went through long, tiring days balancing work and school. His morning classes went until about 2pm, then he’d eat some lunch before his hospital shift started at 3. After work, he’d be up late doing his assignments for the next day. When he graduated from nursing school, Frank’s dream became reality. He got hired as a nurse in the ICU at NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital. “When I was a housekeeper, my priority was to help my mom, to help bring money to the house and to learn English,” Frank said. “Thankfully, through all of my experiences at work, I was able to discover my dream.”Frank isn’t done yet. He’s training to become qualified as a bilingual specialist at the hospital and help Spanish speaking people get the care they need. “I was hoping that I would be able to care for patients in Spanish,” he said. “I wanted to work with under served populations.” He also hopes to go back to school soon to receive his PHD. “Education doesn’t stop here,” he mentioned. “It’s something that has to continue to evolve. The more educated I get, the more lives I can touch and the more people I can inspire to accomplish their dreams.”

Womans Dad Passed Away in an Accident - 13 Years Later, She Discovers a Surprising List Written by Him at Her House
Uplifting News

Womans Dad Passed Away in an Accident - 13 Years Later, She Discovers a Surprising List Written by Him at Her House

“I didn’t talk about it.”Indeed, it had been 13 long, painful years for Laura Carney. At age 38, a mix of pain and shame at how senseless it was kept it all buried inside. Per the Washington Post, her father had been tragically killed by a distracted driver using their cell phone. While Carney did some activist work to help herself and others like her get past the grief, her heart was still heavy. It might have stayed that way if not for a chance discovery that would alter her life forever. The Discovery That Changed a Woman’s LifePhoto by Maria OrlovaCarney’s brother David was at her house when he found a brown suede pouch. Inside was their late father’s driver's license, a ring, some trinkets, and…a letter.It was dated 1987, the year Laura was born. There, on tattered paper, was a list titled ‘Things I would like to do in my lifetime.’ Carney was holding none other than her late father Michael 'Mick' Carney's bucket list. Carney turned, looked at husband Steven Seighman and without words both knew what had to be done. “I needed to finish it. This is what I’m supposed to do,” she recalled.A Daughter’s Journey to Finish Her Dad’s Bucket ListPhoto by Anete LusinaOf the 60 total items, 5 were checked off, including 'do a comedy monologue in a nightclub' and 'see a World Series game live.' One was marked “failed” — 'pay back my dad $1,000 plus interest.' That left 54 items for Carney to complete.Some were relatively easy, which she says "happened organically.” For example, since she’d already signed up for a marathon, that took care of ‘running for 10 miles straight.'Like most bucket lists, there were several travel goals, including trips to New Orleans, San Diego, Las Vegas, Chicago, Paris, London and Vienna. Others were, 'Swim the width of a river' and 'Grow a watermelon.'Then followed the more daunting ones. For example, how does one go about having a ‘Talk with the president’ or 'Correspond with the Pope’? She had her work cut out for her, but nothing stop a daughter's date with destiny. President Jimmy Carter — who would have been president when Carney’s father wrote the list — taught Sunday school in Georgia. And so, she packed her bags and met the US's 39th President in person. A Father’s Bucket List CompletedPhoto by Kelly SikkemaThen finally, six soul-searching years later ended with success as she checked off her father’s last item: 'Have five songs recorded.' In a studio, she recorded her father's favorites including Jim Henson’s “The Rainbow Connection” and The Beatles’ “Good Night.”Carney said that her wild ride completing it gave her the motivation to make her own bucket list. “I really encourage everybody to write down what they want to do,” she said. “It helps you start living more intentionally, and when you’re living intentionally, you feel more of a sense of purpose in your life.”How a Dad Reminds Us to Live For Now but Remember Our HeartCarney said that the process has helped her finally deal with the grief while reconnecting her with herself and her father. “It was a thing I needed to do so I could get back in touch with my real self,” she said. “I was still carrying this grief and this trauma, and I had no idea that I was.”Indeed, Seighman said that watching his wife go through the list was "like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon.”Do we ever stop to wonder how much of our own self-sabotage comes from our own unresolved lists? It might be that tough talk we put off having, or telling someone how much we love them.If Carney's story teaches us one thing, it's to live with a sense of urgency so we don't leave any boxes unchecked and know that we're never alone for the ride.

50-Year-Old Woman Challenges Herself to Spend 500 Days Alone Underground - When the Time's Up, She Doesnt Want to Leave
Uplifting News

50-Year-Old Woman Challenges Herself to Spend 500 Days Alone Underground - When the Time's Up, She Doesnt Want to Leave

How much time are you able to spend alone, without seeing anyone else? A few days? Maybe longer? Now, how much time do you think you’d be able to go without seeing anyone else while also living alone, underground? One woman figured she could last 500 days… and she was right.A Scientific JourneyCourtesy of PexelsOn Saturday, Nov 20, 2021, a Spanish mountain climber named Beatriz Flamini entered a cave in southern Spain to spend 500 days in isolation. She was 48 years old and wanted to help scientists see how a human would handle living underground for so long. According to the Associated Press, the project was called “Timecave.”Flamini entered the cave 70 meters underground, armed with books, painting and art supplies, and knitting. She used two cameras to document her experience and then placed the recordings at an exchange point. Her team dropped off food and other necessities at the site throughout her time there.According to AP, there was a team of psychologists, researchers, physical trainers and speleologists monitoring her, but none of them had direct contact.After five hundred days underground (excluding eight days where technical difficulties forced her to stay isolated in a tent, instead), Flamini emerged, triumphant.A Lovely TimeShortly after Flamini came out of the cave, there was a press conference where she detailed her time there. She asked who was buying the celebratory round of beers, and admitted she lost track of time after about 60 days.At no point did she feel like she would hit the panic button though, even when a swarm of flies attacked her. "If this is your dream and you're realizing it, why are you going to cry?" she said, as per Reuters.“In fact, I didn’t want to come out,” she told reporters. "When they came in to get me, I was asleep. I thought something had happened," Flamini added. “I said: 'Already? Surely not.' I hadn't finished my book.”Then, because she hadn’t showered in more than 16 months, the now-50-year-old asked to be excused.A New Record Flamini missed a lot of things during her time in isolation, like the end of certain COVID restrictions, the death of Queen Elizabeth, and the start of the Ukraine war. But her team also believes she now holds a world record, which will hopefully be verified soon.According to the AP, Italian Maurizio Montalbini set a world record in 1987 by spending 210 days in a cave. There are also reports of a person who spent more than 460 days underground in 2016.RELATED: 10 Celebrities You Won’t Believe Set Guinness World RecordsFor now, Flamini is looking forward to catching up with friends and family. Doctors will also continue to monitor her mental and physical health in the near future, so she’ll wait to hear their final assessments before planning her next adventure. Until then, she’ll have fond memories of this one.“I didn't talk to myself out loud, but I had internal conversations and got on very well with myself,” she added. “You have to remain conscious of your feelings. If you're afraid, that's something natural but never let panic in, or you get paralyzed.”You're More Capable Than You RealizeIt takes a strong person to survive an isolating experiment such as this, but this story is also touching because it reminds us of just how incredible the human body is. If you can put your mind to something, you really can achieve incredible feats. Flamini is proof of that. We may not be able to survive a cave, but we can get through hard things. Often, the only person that stands in your way is you. This story just reminds us that sometimes we have to stop the negative self-talk and get our grit on instead. Because once we do, we’re basically unstoppable.

Teen Works Hard to Pay For Her Dream College - Gives Her Entire Savings to Her Mom Instead After Finding Out She’s in Debt
Uplifting News

Teen Works Hard to Pay For Her Dream College - Gives Her Entire Savings to Her Mom Instead After Finding Out She’s in Debt

It takes a special kind of person to be giving when they have nothing. Recently, one aspiring Texas teenager gave up her college savings to help her mom pay rent.Alondra Carmona is an 18-year-old senior at YES Prep East End in Houston, Texas. She was recently accepted to Barnard College, an Ivy League liberal arts college for women located in New York City. Why One Teen Gave Up Her Dream of Going to CollegePhoto by PixabayAlondra was granted $60,000 a year from Barnard College but her tuition is $78,000. She knew that she needed to work to make up the difference and be able to attend her dream school. With summer internships and a part-time job at Chipotle, Alondra had roughly $1,800 in savings.Shortly after her acceptance, Alondra was faced with tough news from her mother, Martha. Her mother told her that she had been out of work for 3 months and that she owed the landlord $2,000. With a foot injury and impending surgery, Martha would not be able to find work for the next while. RELATED: Struggling Waiter Doesn’t Know How He Will Pay for College – Then a Famous Customer’s Tip Leaves Him Speechless“She said that she hasn’t had a job for 3 months,” Alondra said, “And right when she told me that, I kinda wanted to cry because I knew then that I had to accept that I wasn’t going to be able to go to Bernard.” At this low moment, Alondra extended a helping hand to her mother, who she calls her hero. She offered her mother the $1,800 she had saved to keep the roof over their heads.“I knew I wanted to help her so I really didn’t even think twice about it.” Alondra said, “I told her I’d give her my savings and then make the GoFundMe and see if I can replace the money that was in my savings.”How Strangers Stepped in to Help the Teen With the Big Heart The goal Alondra set on GoFundMe was $30,000. In the next few days, her story caught widespread attention and strangers from all over the world helped her raise over $125,000. Her dream was reinstated, she is able to attend Bernard and not have to worry about her mom’s financial situation. Alondra will be majoring in neuroscience and minoring in Latin American studies. “I have worked so hard to get to Bernard and I didn’t think was going to get to go.” Alondra said, “You all have made it possible for me to go to Bernard with basically a full-ride scholarship.” Alondra showed her gratitude to the public who brought her dream of becoming a paediatric neurosurgeon one step closer. "I know this is her lifelong dream, and she used to dress up as a doctor when she was little," Martha said, "I'm really happy and proud."The decision Alondra decided to make was to help her mother when she needed it most. She was willing to give up her whole life savings and a chance at attending her dream school for her family. Karma works in mysterious ways. The public was not going to let her financials get in the way of her future. The universe will always repay those who are willing to help others.

SMART Goals: A Complete Guide To Achieving Your Dreams
Mindset

SMART Goals: A Complete Guide To Achieving Your Dreams

Setting goals is the foundation of many forms of success or accomplishment. Listen to any success story, and you’ll hear about the power of outlining your dreams and ambitions. On the other hand, you only have to look at New Year's resolutions to see that setting goals is only part of the challenge — accomplishing them is another story.RELATED: Why Setting Relationship Goals Is Important – And How to Do ItHowever, smart goal setting isn’t beyond reach. While poor goal-setting approaches run the risk of causing procrastination, overwhelming you, or creating a sense of perceived failure, finding ways to create attainable goals is actually a practical skill that can be supported by utilizing the right tools and practices.This article will provide a complete guide to one of the most widely used and effective approaches to building a smart goal framework that works for you. If you’ve been struggling to achieve meaningful goals, or find you lack clarity on what you want from life, then SMART goals will be a smart starting point. Let’s jump in.Why Are SMART Goals Important?Before getting into exactly what smart goals are, let’s talk about why they’re important. Setting smart objectives helps to create clarity about what you want from life, and what makes life meaningful to you. Along the way, setting and attaining an achievable goal boosts confidence and self-esteem. New York Times bestselling author, Harvey Mackay, sums up the power of goal setting perfectly: “A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.” Whether you write goals down on paper or keep them in your head, having a measurable goal attached to a target date can make your dreams a reality.Comparing Goal-Setting MethodsA 2014 study by Dr. Gail Matthews, a clinical psychologist at the Dominican University of California, explored different types of goal setting and their effectiveness. Her results backed up the reason the SMART framework is so popular — providing empirical evidence that writing well-defined goals, action steps, and accountability boost the chances of success.Matthews broke down participants into five groups: the first had unwritten goals, the second wrote their goals down, the third (after writing smart goals) added action commitments, the fourth wrote goals and actions and gave them to a friend, and the fifth group added all these steps plus updated a friend on their progress each week.76 percent of participants in the fifth group were successful in achieving their goals. In contrast, those with unwritten goals had a success rate of 43 percent. Now, imagine how a success-rate increase of 33 percent could change your life over six months, or a year, or a decade…What is the SMART Goal Framework?“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” — Henry David Thoreau.SMART goals originated from a 1981 paper published in Management Review and written by George Doran, titled There's a S.M.A.R.T. Way to Write Management's Goals and Objectives. The SMART framework has since moved beyond the world of business and has become one of the most popular goal-setting systems for self-development.SMART is an acronym that lives up to its name. It’s an intelligent and structured approach to goal setting that is optimized to achieve results in an attainable way, without having to sacrifice ambition. Doing this can be hard work, and without guidance around setting goals, it’s easy to get lost in the dark, setting goals arbitrarily without much follow-up. The added direction to the goal-setting process is explained in the SMART acronym itself: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound.SpecificWhen building castles in the air it’s tempting to mistake goals for outcomes, such as earning a million dollars, publishing a bestselling book, or becoming an Oscar-winning actor. SMART goals, however, are specific. They aren’t based on outcomes but actionable steps and objectives, built upon a foundation of smaller individual tasks and habits.The more refined your goals are, the better. Specific goals provide clarity about what you’re looking to achieve. For example, “becoming a millionaire” is vague. How do you know where to begin? A more concrete and specific goal is “to improve my finances” — under which will be smaller goals, such as “clear debt,” “boost income,” or “reduce expenses.” You might call these sub-tasks key performance indicators.Examples of Specific GoalsResearch has shown specific goals are more achievable than vague goals, even if they’re more difficult! To assist in the process of getting specific with your goals, ask yourself the Five W’s:What do I want to accomplish?Why is it important?Who is involved?Where is it located?What resources do I need?In answering these questions, you’ll begin to get a clearer idea of what smaller actions you’ll need to take. For example, if you want to get along better with your team members at work, it might require some deeper thought about how you can go about it.Or, if accomplishing financial security for greater peace of mind and stability is your goal, then it might require improving your financial literacy by learning about budgeting and responsible spending. MeasurableThe next step is identifying a way to measure progress. Like Sisyphus pushing a boulder endlessly up a hill without signs of progress, it’s easy to lose motivation and give up without signs of forward motion. Creating an understanding of how you’ll track progress sets you up for success in the long run.How do you know you’re moving in the right direction, or that you’re doing it within the right time frame? Start with brainstorming a few ideas. How will you quantify the progress you’re making? How often will you step back, look at the bigger picture, and re-adjust if necessary? Are your goals relevant and time-bound? The way you measure progress will be as unique as the goal itself.Examples of Measurable GoalsI wish to note it's much, much easier to set measurable goals when they are outcome-based, such as improving your finances, than inner work, such as working on gratitude or self-compassion. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible — for example, you might keep track of your mood once you begin a gratitude practice, journaling insights around how your appreciation has changed. AttainableWhy is it important to set realistic goals? Because realistic goals have a huge impact on the chances of success and building of momentum. Psychologist Jonathan Rottenburg specializes in researching the link between goal setting and mood. He discovered that unattainable goals can be a precursor for depressive disorder, highlighting how significant goal setting is for our wellbeing. He writes:“A key hypothesis from mood science is that our cultural epidemic of low mood results from people becoming fixated in the pursuit of unattainable goals. How many people chase low-probability outcomes, such as becoming a bestselling author or a famous actress? Yet an extraordinarily deep-rooted ethos in our culture shames and discourages people from ever giving up on a goal. Many people’s default response is therefore to double down, often locking themselves into depression for weeks, months, and years. Psychotherapists often succeed in their work because they understand that the right goals are a cornerstone of psychological well-being.”Don’t put limits on your imagination. Be aware of limited beliefs telling you that you can’t achieve what you desire. But, at the same time, make sure your goals are realistic and attainable for where you’re at, right now. That means taking into consideration any resources you don’t yet have, and factors outside of your control. Dream big, but keep expectations modest, and define your goals using smart criteria. Examples of Attainable GoalsSetting attainable goals can be as simple as reframing. For example, you might have a goal to write a bestselling book. But that is largely outside of your control. Instead, what if you could reframe the focus to the manuscript? “I will complete a manuscript for my book” is a goal you have complete control over, making success more likely. How the book is received, by agents or audiences, is down to consistency, timing, and a healthy dose of luck.RelevantSMART goals are fully aligned with what you want. It’s easy to be swayed by peer pressure, cultural expectations, or ideas about the type of life you should live. Without taking time for introspection, or developing self-awareness to know what feels right for you, you might end up setting superficial goals. These goals aren’t self-satisfying but an attempt to boost your self-image or social status. Make sure your goals are relevant to you. Take time to reflect and be honest with yourself about what you really want on a heart level.Examples of Relevant GoalsRelevant goals strengthen the foundation of your personal dreams and motivations, and your current circumstances. You might have a goal you’d love to achieve in life, but the timing isn’t quite right. For example, if you’re coming toward the end of studying for a Ph.D., it might not be the best time to start researching a separate topic for a book.Time-boundEven the most specific and actionable goals will fail if they’re always put off for another day. Adding deadlines to your goals will ensure you stay on track and take action to make goals a reality. There’s a skill in setting deadlines. If your deadlines aren’t achievable, you’re more likely to give up. If they’re too far away, it’s unlikely you’ll be motivated to take action in the present.Working out how to set deadlines and reminders is a process of trial and error. You might get the timing wrong, but as long as you’re reflecting and assessing progress, you will be able to course-correct.Examples of Time-Bound GoalsIt often pays to look to the future and work backward from there. Where would you like to be in a year’s time? Six months? What actions can you take this week, or today, that will move you in that direction? Make your deadlines realistic, too.When introducing the SMART framework, Doran explained that not all goals will necessarily fit these criteria. However, the closer the goal is to each, the smarter and more achievable it will be. No matter what goals you’re setting, it’s worth attempting to relate them to each of the above steps as best you can.How to Apply the Wisdom of SMART GoalsI’d recommend putting aside time to list a number of your goals in various life areas — social, professional, financial, spiritual, health, etc. Remember goals are ever-evolving and aren’t static. I’m sure the goals you’d set now are different from 10 years ago and likely different from what they’ll be 10 years from now.But if you set SMART goals, you will have clarity and an action plan. Remember to support each goal with smaller objectives that help lead you to your destination, along with working with a friend or a coach for added accountability. Here are four additional pointers to enhance your goal-setting practice:1. Take Time to ReflectIt’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of striving for goals and constantly jogging on the treadmill of day-to-day tasks. Perspective is everything, though, and it’s important to make sure you occasionally check in and reflect. That includes tracking progress, seeing what’s working and what isn’t, and making sure your goals are still relevant to you.Reflection allows you to make sure your goals are purposeful. It’s better to have fewer goals that resonate fully, than hundreds of goals you’re unsure about. An outdated and uninspiring set of goals is arguably less motivating than a lack of clarity or direction. The more you can make sure your goals are refined and meaningful, the more likely you are to continue making positive steps toward them. 2. Align Goals with ValuesOne sure way to be inspired and committed to goals is to make sure they align with your values. I would add values to the SMART process by always considering: which values does this goal align with? For example, improving your physical fitness might be about much more than physical health. It could align with deeper values such as dedication, consistency, and commitment.Goals which aren’t aligned with values and overly focus on results are less likely to inspire long-term dedication. Aligning goals with values is a powerful way of making sure the goals you’re setting aren’t only attainable but add meaning to your life. The intrinsic motivation will allow you to greatly enjoy the process, regardless of results or outcomes.3. Be Aware of the Sunk Cost FallacyThe sunk cost fallacy is a cognitive bias that encourages people to continue investing time, energy, or money into something which isn’t worthwhile, based on past investments. A classic example of this is a gambler chasing losses. But this fallacy surfaces in many ways, resulting in staying in romantic relationships for longer than would be ideal, or continuing with creative projects out of stubbornness.Honesty is required if you reach the point where the goal no longer becomes relevant — even if you’ve put a lot of effort into getting to the stage you’re now at. Although we live in a culture of “never give up,” sometimes quitting skilfully is one of the smartest moves you can make.4. Focus on Process Over OutcomeIn sports psychology, there’s a phenomenon known as the post-Olympic blues. It’s common for successful athletes to experience a significant drop in mood, or even depression, after competing. Many goal-winning athletes end up feeling lost and without purpose once they’ve achieved their lifetime aim — something they’ve dedicated their entire lives to.The reason I end with this is as a reminder. In today’s hustle culture, it’s easy to get sidetracked by goals, to focus obsessively on where you’d like to be at the expense of being present to the gifts in front of your very own eyes. Yes, goals are important, but they’re an addition to a life well-lived. Final Thoughts on the Value of GoalsGoals are no replacement for connection, gratitude, love, and friendship. So it always pays to keep goals themselves in perspective. Learn to enjoy the process, adopt a growth mindset, and let goals be an inspiration for the journey of life, not destinations that make life meaningful only once you’ve arrived.Not all goals are equal, though, and the SMART framework offers you a solid foundation to start making positive steps toward the life you want.KEEP READING The Growth Mindset: 10 Steps To Move Past Limitations And Fulfill Your Potential

The Teeth-Falling-Out Dream: What Does It Mean?
Emotional Health

The Teeth-Falling-Out Dream: What Does It Mean?

Experiencing physical trauma in a dream can be very unsettling, to say the least. And sleep disturbances don’t just affect your sleep quality, they can also leave you feeling a little freaked out.In fact, many of us instinctively check our body for damage when we wake up after one of these unsettling REM sleep events, even though we know it won't really be there. In the end, all we can do is get up and just go about our day, trying our best to shake off any lingering feelings. Still, regardless of whether they were simply unusual or recurring dreams, they can still affect your mental health, whether temporarily or in the long run. In the case of recurring dreams, sufferers will find that these can result in poor sleep quality, among other negative side effects. One of the most disturbing dreams you can have about your own body is when you see your teeth falling out. According to research, the teeth falling out dream is a very common dream to have; nearly 40 percent of people report having such a dream. While everyone remembers losing their baby teeth as kids, few people can say they have actually experienced their adult teeth falling out. In these dreams, however, there's usually no tooth fairy bestowing gifts. Even if there is no actual dental distress, such dreams are full of dental tension, teeth grinding and instinctual teeth clenching.RELATED: What Your Dreams Say About You and How it Can Help You ImproveDo you want to know more about teeth-related dreams, and what a dream interpretation might tell you? Good! You’re in the right place. While dreams don't necessarily reflect one's waking life, trying to make sense of your dreams can be helpful in examining your daytime experiences.A good dream interpretation has the potential of providing a deeper meaning to those classic teeth falling out dreams and may help you feel less concerned if you happen to have one. Read on for more information on this unique type of psychological distress, and how to overcome these and other typical dream themes. Why Teeth Dreams Can Be DisturbingPhoto by Alexandra Gorn on UnsplashTeeth are vital to our everyday lives, especially since we use them functionally to chew and socially to smile. It’s no wonder that dreaming your teeth are falling out can be pretty scary, no matter who you are or what your life circumstances are. This dream is universally eerie—most people would feel pretty terrified by the thought of suddenly losing their teeth. It's safe to say that whenever someone wakes from a dream about teeth falling out, they'll feel a strong urge to check every tooth and make sure their mouth is just the same as it was when they went to sleep the night before. RELATED: 9 Ways to Defeat Insomnia — and Get a Better Night’s SleepEven though there is usually no sign of dental irritation at all, teeth dreams are also unnerving simply because there can be so much variety to them. They can play out in many different scenarios and situations as well. You can lose all your teeth, for example, or just one. Your teeth could fall out mid-conversation, or when you're getting your teeth cleaned at the dentist. You might even be doing something as simple as picking something out of your teeth in a dream when you end up losing a tooth. The dream motif scale can be all over the place. Whatever the dream ends up being and no matter the physiological and psychological correlates, there is clearly a lot of variation of the kinds of teeth-related dreams people have. The common denominator is how troubling they can be on your psyche when you wake up from one. What Teeth Dreams Typically Represent In Waking Life(Gravity Images/Getty)According to famous psychoanalysts Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, dreams are more than just stories our brains make up while we sleep. Our dreams can often illuminate or mirror what's going on in our real lives, providing subconscious insight about various situations and relationships. A dream about teeth falling out—or teeth-related trauma, for that matter—can certainly indicate psychological stress over something going on in your waking life. When anxiety of some form or other enters your life, these can be one of the most common dream themes, whether the dream is triggered by a conflict with another person, a loss of some kind, a major change that's taking place in your life. Typical Dream ThemesPhoto by Egor Vikhrev on UnsplashHere are some of the most common interpretations of teeth dreams, a brief symptom inventory, and why these general sleep disturbances represent more than teeth tension or a literal fear of your teeth falling out. Communication IssuesThis is the most common interpretation for teeth dreams. When you dream about losing teeth, usually your brain is processing how you've been communicating lately. (This includes the reverse, as well, like if you've been withholding communication or communicating poorly recently.) So, if you've had a particularly challenging conversation, you've been psyching yourself out for a tough talk you need to have with someone or you've had regret over something you recently said, a teeth dream may form in your subconscious.RELATED: How to Overcome Your Deepest Fear Holding You Back from Your Dream LifeFeelings of powerlessnessWhen your teeth fall out in a dream, you can feel a sense of helplessness—like there's nothing you can do to keep this horrible situation from happening. In your waking life, this dream content could relate to you not advocating for yourself enough or standing up for what you truly believe in. This interpretation is also related to communication: Perhaps you have been withholding something you really need to say to someone. Or perhaps you feel like your voice isn't really being heard by your partner, your kids, your team at work, someone in your family or another key individual in your life. EmbarrassmentTeeth dreams can help us process awkward situations from life as well. Maybe you had a recent cringe-worthy moment—something you said or did that you really regretted after. Or perhaps you're worried about embarrassing yourself in an upcoming situation, like a presentation you need to give at work or a conversation you need to have with someone important. (For instance, if you're about to go on a first date or planning to propose marriage, you could have a teeth falling out dream beforehand if you're worried about the moment completely backfiring on you.)Insecurity Teeth can represent vanity or a lack of confidence. Straight, white teeth have become a beauty standard, while yellowed, crooked or missing teeth are often seen as less ideal physical traits. So, when you dream about your teeth falling out, this could indicate that you feel insecure, or that you have some kind of growing concern about your appearance. Maybe you're getting older and fear that you're losing your good looks. Maybe your self-esteem is deeply tied to your appearance and your brain is processing what it might be like if you were no longer beautiful. Or perhaps you've been feeling down on your looks and this dream represents the results of the psychological symptoms that accentuate your thoughts of being less-than when compared to others. RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Your Sleep Cycle (And How to Improve It)LossIf you're recently experienced loss—the death of a loved one, getting fired from your job or another tough situation—you might have a teeth-related dream caused by depression. Or, you could have this dream if you're worried about impending loss, like you think your partner is going to leave you. There also are religious interpretations that a dream about your teeth falling out indicates that there's going to be a death in your family. (But, let's be real here: Dreams are not psychic events.)Money A less common interpretation is purely financial. Just like how kids expect coins when the tooth fairy visits, a teeth falling out dream can signify a windfall of cash on the horizon. This isn't a prescient vision of the future or anything like that—you probably shouldn't stock up on lottery tickets after having this dream. Rather, it's more that your brain could be processing a money-related event that may happen in your life, like getting a raise at work.The Most Common Dreams About Teeth Falling OutPhoto by Shane on UnsplashNow, to go deeper into what specific teeth dreams can mean, the following situations are some of the more common scenarios that pop up in people's dreams. The interpretations accompanying each one can give you an even more in-depth analysis of what these dreams might indicate about psychological distress in your daytime life. You can use them as a reference point when you have a teeth-related dream to help you further interpret its meaning, and also to improve your sleep quality.All of your teeth fall out suddenly: These are typical dream themes when you regret something you said. Especially if whatever you said had a major impact on another person or on one of your relationships, this dream could represent the divide between the time before your statement and the aftermath of it. You lose your teeth one at a time: This dream usually means that you said something you shouldn't have but more incrementally—maybe you gossiped about a friend and now you feel guilty about letting those words trickle out. RELATED: How to Fall Asleep Fast (and Stay Asleep Longer, Too)Your teeth are really loose, but don't fully come out: Some part of your life is teetering on the brink. There's instability going on somewhere: you're wavering on a decision or you're unsure about something. These teeth dreams are all about your life in limbo.Your teeth break or splinter: Broken teeth have to be repaired so these teeth dreams are often tied to stress or some kind of burden. In your waking life, you may have to deal with something you don't necessarily want to deal with. Another way to interpret this dream is if you said something but you're not sure that the other person really understood you—if your teeth are breaking off in pieces this means maybe you didn't explain your point well enough. Your teeth crumble: In this dream, your teeth might turn from solid to dust. This could mean that there's also something disintegrating or slipping away from you in your own life. Maybe your relationship is on the rocks or you're feeling a lack of control over a certain situation. Your teeth start rotting: This dream signifies that there are lingering problems in your waking life. Something around you is decaying and not being attended to, which is the reason for this psychological distress. RELATED: Reading Before Bed Will Give You a Better Night’s SleepYou lose your teeth and can't find them again: Since teeth often represent words, this dream usually means that you're having a hard time figuring out what to say to someone. Or, you've already said the wrong thing to someone and you need to figure out what to say now to rectify the situation or explain yourself. You pull out your own teeth: First of all, ouch. For this dream, there's often a big change coming up for you. This shift is approaching no matter what and it can either be something stressful (like you're about to graduate but you don't have a job lined up) or something empowering (such as you're about to start your own business), depending on what's going on in your life at the moment. These teeth you pull out could symbolize ripping off the proverbial band-aid and accepting this shift. You're wearing false teeth: Dreaming that you have false teeth in your mouth usually happens when you're involved in dishonest situations in your daily life. If you've been lying to someone, covering up a lie for someone else or projecting an image of yourself that's not really true, you might have one of these dream themes. How To Recover From A Dream About Teeth Falling OutPhoto by Mert Kahveci on UnsplashFirst and foremost, go check the mirror and make sure those pearly whites are all in order—that will ease your mind instantly. While most times, dream-induced feelings will dissipate quickly, you may still feel a little shaken. And that's perfectly normal.The best thing you can do if you're rattled from a teeth falling out dream is to embrace whatever uncomfortable feeling you're having and breathe through it—whether it's stress, regret, uncertainty, you name it—instead of trying to push it away. RELATED: 6 Surprising Reasons You’re Having Trouble Sleeping WellThen, if you're still weirded out from your dream, seize the moment to think critically about the content. Grab a journal and jot down whatever it is you can remember, then reread what you've written. You may find it all totally ridiculous seeing the scenario about your teeth falling out down on paper. Or you might find some interesting clues that correlate to how you're feeling about a situation going on in your life. Working through the thoughts and emotions that arise can help further diffuse the power of the dream and perhaps even bring you some needed clarity. In the end, dreams are just that: dreamsThe most important thing is to not stew over a teeth dream or other dream themes like it - or any dream for that matter! Remember that dream analysis is just one of the many self-reflection tools you have in your personal growth toolbox. In the end, recurring dreams of this nature are just the results of our subconscious getting a good workout. So while it's always interesting to look for deeper meaning, once you're feeling satisfied with your interpretation, let the dream go and enjoy your real life.KEEP READING:What Is the Optimal Amount of Sleep?