The Power of Speaking in the Present

One of the practices of the dream work I teach is to write your dreams in present tense, and speak to them in the present tense. We also open dreams in the present tense.

The reason we work with dreams in the present tense is because dreams are happening right now. To put something in the past tense is to set it aside, or even subtly dismiss it. For example, if we say “Oh, I had a dream about a monster last night” it connotes that the monster is gone; but, our images stay with us until we shift them. They are with us in the present by simply saying we had a dream about a monster because we have brought it forward to our present moment in order to speak it – the image is back alive in our forefront.

If we talk about the monster in the past, or dismiss it, it is akin to shoving it back in the closet. It is still there, but we are closing our eyes to it. If we speak in the present we are facing the monster. This gives us the opportunity to tame it, understand it and transform. Until we acknowledge the present-tense presence of the monster we can’t shift it, which means the fear, guilt or other energies we are experiencing will continue to hang on us, keeping us from powerfully moving forward in our lives.

Speaking in the present is to be present – present to our own selves, to that which is frightening us or which is moving us, to be present to our every moment of the possibility of transformation.

My father used to tell me to always stay current with people so that regrets don’t develop. Speaking in the present is being current with the Self.

One way to think of this is to imagine that someone asks you “Where do you want to go?” and you answer all in past tense. That would be weird! It is the same with your dreaming dialogue. Your dreams are in a present-tense conversation with you. To answer in past tense is to put distance between you and them and not honor them as important or in front of you.

The more you get in the habit of speaking in the present tense, the more you will be led to live in the present tense; from the mouth, the mind follows. This will make learning dreaming as a language much easier and faster.

Speaking in the past tense is a habit in Western culture. Learn to speak in the present. Not only will you have a richer dream dialogue, you will also be a more powerful presence in your emails, communications and interactions with others. This is one of the big lessons that I teach business professionals and companies.

It is common in business emails, for example, to begin with a phrase like “I wanted to let you know that I appreciated your time …”. This is past tense. If we speak in the present we would write “I appreciate you spending this time with me.”

Which of the two sentences above is more direct, intimate and honest? Which is hedging and tentative? Which one lets the person know they are appreciated – right now – as a person, as opposed to only once, in the past, because of something they did?

Speaking in the present tense – living in the present – is a good habit to learn. It will have immediate, positive results in your interactions with others, as well as with your own development as you interact with yourself. Insisting on it in your dreaming, and in your dream group, is a great first place to start getting yourself in the habit of doing so.