Running and Trying to Escape in Your Dreams

I've spent most of my life running. An onlooker would say I was trying to escape my problems, which I probably would agree with. But most of the time, I wanted to escape a version of me that people knew—someone I wasn't proud of. I've lived in so many states I have to go through them all to remember the exact number (California, Nevada, North Carolina, Nebraska, Illinois, Virginia, and now Pennsylvania... so 7). I have a best friend I met when I was 12, but other than that, I don't think I have any friendships with anyone from before the age of 25. I say all this so you know I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm always running. Sometimes I walk away, but I am always trying to escape whatever situation I feel trapped in.

So why am I telling you my life story? I have a common dream of running, trying to escape something or someone. In fact, just last night it appeared again. I spent most of my dream trying to hide, trying to get away from someone. I think this could just indicate I'm stressed out from life in general, but there is a spiritual component as well.

In Dreams and What They Mean to You by Migene González-Wippler, she writes about escaping: "you will rise in the world through hard work and determination. If you try to escape and fail, you will suffer setbacks through dishonest people." Regarding running: "You will achieve riches and a high position. If you stumble or fall, you will suffer losses of both property and reputation."

If you think of it in a broad context, it makes sense. When we run from a person, or try to escape them, they are holding us back in some way. For me, it's usually because they remember me in a certain way—someone I no longer am—and they will always hold that picture in their head. They will treat you the same way, no matter how much growth you've accomplished. It can almost be a prison because you feel trapped in a mold that no longer fits you. So you run, you let go of the relationship, and with it the bondage that shackled you, which might have been placed by them or self-inflicted. By doing so, you allow yourself an opportunity to flourish, to transform into whoever you were called to be.

You will be able to manifest whatever you want the more mental chains you break. I don't think it's bad to run away or escape. It helps you accomplish more, grows your worldview, and shows you that there truly is no limit to what you can accomplish and who you can become. That said, I acknowledge that at some point you should lay down roots. Revel in what you've accomplished. Intuitively, I picture a cactus that is first planted in a forest. Realizing these environments don't fit, it keeps being transplanted to different locations: a swamp, a cornfield, and one day, the desert.

It feels like it can finally breathe. It was never going to thrive where it originally was. It needed to escape. It extends its roots. And finally, it will flourish.

What are you running from in your dreams, and whatever it is, do you think it’s holding you back from reaching your full potential in real life?

If you have a recurring dream you are confused about, or might want extra insight on, feel free to contact me—I'll probably write a blog post about it!