Dreams about repeating something – what do they mean? (Dream interpretation repetition)
Repetition, to do something over and over again in a dream – what does it mean?
Research shows that many have dreamt that they repeat the same action over and over again. What is this about? (NOTE: Click here if you were searching for the blogpost about recurring dreams)
Dream of repetition as a picture of a feeling of facing an impossible mission or to be “stalled”.
Dreams where you repeat the same action over and over again may simply be a picture of the fact that you in your life are faced with a task/challenge where you feel powerless.
At the same time it can also be a picture that you somehow are stuck in your life, and not really move forward from where you are – either in your development or in your positions. The dream thus indicates that there is an immeasurably need of a new perspective/position, and maybe you can seek the help of another/some you would not normally get involved in your challenges, because you find it difficult to even see a solution to your situation/your problem.
–
When trying to understand your dreams it is important to know that your dreams are… your dreams. As such, you are the best person to figure out the true meaning of your dreams.
However, it is important to learn how to generally approach your dreams. Dream dictionaries like this one are only a supplement, and if you want to fully utilize the potential of your dreams, you should start at a different place.
My online course “Unlock your DREAMlife” gives you a great foundation for understanding (and recalling) your dreams.
–
Repeating an inappropriate pattern.
The dream may also be a picture that you once again have brought yourself or are about to bring yourself in an unfortunate situation. Perhaps you might be leaving a girlfriend/partner for exactly the same reason as last time. You have not caught sight of something in yourself that is either “forcing” you into the same unfortunate circumstances or “forcing” you out of a good relationship. This pattern may also apply to your work that you in other words once again flee into a new job, without grabbing the root of the problem.
Dream dictionaries are a very helpful tool when interpreting dreams. However, generally learning how to approach your dreams, will give you a better foundation for understanding them. My online course “Unlock your DREAMlife” teaches you how to much better utilize – recall and understand – your dreams.
Return to the index of dream themes and symbols:
Dream interpretation A-Z ↵
Also read: Why I no longer interpret dreams for free
Have you had a dream of repeating a specific action? Please share it as a comment below.
Michael
NOTE: Dreams are 100% individual, and when you dream about repeating something, it’s almost certainly about something else for you than it is for your friend, who also dreamt about repeating something. Dream interpretation / dream analysis is sometimes a difficult art, and a particular interpretation of a dream is only correct if you feel “affected” by it. Therefore, it is not certain that the above mentioned interpretations are relevant to you.
I had a dream last night and I had one similar recently. I am just after completing my leaving certificate (Irish exams to graduate high school) and I studied immensely for them and thankfully they all went really well (I hope). Since, I have been feeling very anxious as to whether or not I will b rewarded appropriately for them as that’s not always the case because sometimes examiner’s can be very harsh as I have experienced before and I am worried that I won’t get what I deserve. Last night I had a dream that I had to repeat my Irish language exam which to me felt like the best one I did. It was not because I didn’t pass it, it was simply the next day (in the dream) that our teacher told us she would rather we take it again and so I had no other choice and I was so disappointed because I thought I did so well and didn’t want to repeat it. I had the same dream about my business exam which also went so well. In both dreams I was so annoyed about taking them again that I did not finish the exams and found them really hard. What does this mean? it would be great if you could help 🙂
Hi Molly,
And thank you for your comment, Apologies for my late reply, but I receive many comments every day, and I simply cannot keep up with them. That is also why I have decided to no longer do interpretations for free. Instead I offer the following options: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I had a dream of beautiful feminine eyes staring straight and kept repeating over and over again “You only want me when I’m not there”. What does that mean
Hi Natasha,
And thank you for your comment, Apologies for my late reply, but I receive many comments every day, and I simply cannot keep up with them. That is also why I have decided to no longer do interpretations for free. Instead I offer the following options: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
Just a few minutes ago, I woke up from a dream where I was on the phone with my bestfriend and she was apparently angry at me for somehing and I began explaining myself. But as I got into the explanation she kept interrupting me saying, “ya…ya.” In the dream, I looked strangley at the phone and hung up. But it continued 2 times. It was her voice but strange and repetive. Sounding the same each time. Then, I woke up from the dream but soon went back to sleep, in my next dream I was walking along a street and a man wearing dark sunglasses came up to me and said “you insulted me”, then he walks away. He heads into a van. And when I look back after passing the van, he is walking fast towards me in a different set of clothes. I speed up and look back, and he reaches out to grab me. Then I wake up in cold sweat.
Hi Febe,
And thank you for your comment. Apologies for my late reply, but I receive many comments every day, and I simply cannot keep up with them. That is also why I have decided to no longer do interpretations for free. Instead I offer the following options: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I dreamt last night that my dad who passed away 4 years ago walked down a hill where he grew up and ut just kept replaying over and over again i started off down the bottom of the hill and as i walked up the hill while it kept repeating i could see the different stages of him walking down the hill about after it repeating about 4 or 5 times i reached the top of the hill where he started and he was talking to me and my brothers at the top about the scenery and how it was when he was growing up then hed start his trekk down the hill after following him the whole back down i got nearly to the bottom only to see him turn into a room and when he entered the room he would be really intoxicated and joke arounf for a bit before hed pass out!!this dream repeated itself about 3 or 4 times aswell before i woke up!!felt soo real and as though it had actually happened when i was young???
Hi Julian
And thank you for your comment. Apologies for my late reply, but I receive many comments every day, and I simply cannot keep up with them. That is also why I have decided to no longer do interpretations for free. Instead I offer the following options: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
Hello Mr.Olsen
i had this dream it keeps on repeating every year. so in this dream my friends scares all of my suitors away.while my mom is just there standing on the door. looking at them with a funny look. i tried to stop my friends but they wont listen, until i reach the gate i ran outside to call my suitors back and tell them that ” im sorry but now is not the right time bc of my friends” but suddenly a mystery guy grab me and carried me from behind. my friends suddenly cheered happily and my mom smiled too. but i was so clueless about the guy. so when he stopped and dropped me down, i faced him i saw his face but i never seen him before for real or in any dreams i had. he was different he courted me and then after i think 3-4 scenes i said yes to him and he hug me. we enjoy the hours we had until he finally went home. so after that in the morning i went to his house but when he came out he was with his family he carries a backpack with him its like his going somewhere. so i ask but he just looked to his mom. and his mom nod her head. that guy reached for his hand and guided me inside of his house. we talked and talked and said his goodbye i hugged him like im never gonna let him go again. until i hummed a unfamiliar tune and we danced and danced and danced. while i was crying then he was gone and i woke up from that dream.
thanks:)
Hi Angelica,
And thank you for your comment, and highly interesting dream! Apologies for my late reply, but I receive many comments every day, and I simply cannot keep up with them. That is also why I have decided to no longer do interpretations for free. Instead I offer the following options: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I had a dream that I was in school and I walked into the bathroom and saw my teacher and asked to go to the toilet and she replied “no” this must have repeated a couple times and then she finally said “yes”. The next day I had a different dream but it was as if I was in a game, I was walking around and I could see loads of torture objects and I would find weapons to kill this creepy murderer guy. This would keep repeating a couple times:
Hi Eleanor,
And thank you for your comment, and highly interesting dream! Apologies for my late reply, but I receive many comments every day, and I simply cannot keep up with them. That is also why I have decided to no longer do interpretations for free. Instead I offer the following options: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I had a dream the other night about me writing my number down for a friend and for the life of me I just could not seem to write the number in a neat enough writing to where I thought he’d be able to understand. I flipped page after page writing the same number down wanting him to get the numbers right to be able to contact me. I even remember writing extra slow to write the number clear, but they were still sloppy and unclear. Help.
Hi Kiera,
and thank for your comment and very interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer have the opportunity to help out for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer help via e-mail, telephone or Skype – please read more here: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best – Michael
I had a dream with a repeating phrase of “convince Lisa (my name) to take close captures only” I have no idea what it means, and why I was having that dream. But I was feeling frightened, and not at all at ease. I haven’t stopped thinking about it all day.
Hi Lisa,
and thank for your comment and very interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer have the opportunity to help out for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer help via e-mail, telephone or Skype – please read more here: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best – Michael
hi, i’ve been having this dream where i leave school and go to a shop i go inside then i leave then i go back into the shop and then i leave again. i finally go back inside. what does that mean?
Hi Tillie,
and thank you for your very interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer offer interpretation for free, as I get many requests every day. Instead I offer the following: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I just woke up from my dream. I was with my husband and son . Someone was after my husband we had no idea why. I asked he never told me but strangers help my husband escape the men who keep ram car into my husband. But I was in my own now my suv and was attacke the men so my husband get away and he did then I get pulled over my cop . I loose cop . But now I’m driving towards my dad’s shop with my son . Get out car go run inside look for him my uncles were with me one my mom’s brother the other my dad’s brother, goes towards my dad and brother I said no something different he will kill you he did not listen and got changed inside and then same with my uncle so I run and my cousin /friend appears but to help little bit then a man and same thing and my dad keeps chasing me. I remember my son I have to find the truck to get him out it was sold parts I gotta find him . I do but my cousin pops in and try help me escape my father and I finally got a idea to help myself I come up with lazer use it to point in his head and say I’m a bad person inside out inside out die ..kill. die inside out inside out and he was then I had a fuse in my hand I drop it but I had tube like water hose all around me and fire was starting my cousin looked at me I said run ..I knew I was going to die and my son probably did or not but I held tight so gas won’t leak and finally I let goof it I was willing to die and my cousin said run. .. keep running and you won’t just be faster than the fire so I ran but I was slow so she grabbed my hand a ran for me she was always the fast one and I look at her and said inside out inside out . … smile. . What does this mean ?
-Kimberlee Arteaga
Hi Kimberlee,
and thank you for your interesting dream! I have realized that I have no chance (not enough time) in terms of getting back on all the comments I now get, so I have decided not to offer free interpretation any longer. Very soon I will have a payment system on the website, so that I can offer dream interpretation against payment. Best regards – Michael R Olsen.
I had a dream last night. According to the dream, i am part of a different family. An unknown woman cursed the family. I can’t exactly remember the curse but whenever it happens (the woman searches for the family members) i run and get caught. This running and hiding thing repeated for many times and i don’t know what that means. I hope you can help me.
Hi A,
and thank you for your very interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer offer interpretation for free, as I get many requests every day. Instead I offer the following: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I was fighting over something that was mine, a small vile, once I got a hold of it I would run to get to ‘the king’ where I was safe. The running part (running through a hallway, down some steps, through a door then down another set of stairs never reaching the king) kept happening. Finally right before I woke up abruptly the last time I ran down the stairs I ran right Into him. But I woke up.
Hi Didi,
thank you for your highly interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer offer help for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer the following (interpretation of your dream, with payment): http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
My mom had a dream for the past 3 nights where she was somewhere surrounded by vines. In her dream, she was counting vines and kept losing her count and starting over. In her dream, she never got frustrated when she lost count which is not normal as her and I find it very frustrating when we have to constantly repeat actions. She told me she wakes up from these dreams with a headache. Any insight you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Kristina,
thank you for your highly interesting dream (your moms)! Unfortunately I no longer offer help for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer the following (interpretation of your dream, with payment): http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I keep having certain dreams over and over again like, rolling a roll of duct tape around in my hands over and over all night or repeatedly placing objects in a box. Or making patterns on paper. Simple things. But all night long and whenever I have these dreams I wake up with a migrane and am tired all day.
Hi Meagan,
thank you for your highly interesting dream! Unfortunately I no longer offer help for free, as I get very many requests every day. Instead I offer the following (interpretation of your dream, with payment): http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I had a dream where my husband was in tears and said someone had died but the word he used was contained. That word was used 3 times. It wasn’t the death part that struck out at me but the word that was used very specifically 3 times! Any idea what that might mean?
Hi Nicole,
and sorry for the late response, but I had to give up helping out for free on this website, as I simply drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
Great Article..
Yes even i do get repetitions of a bunking a certain class in college or horror story which is not even relevant lol. what i feel or wanted to ask is rather than the subject is the “emotion” that is repeated or consolidated because the REM mostly is concerned with the emotional states because after waking up or during the stage, the emotional state experienced was the same although even in such repetitions, the dream environment remains the same but subjects change sometime. Let me know your view on this one 🙂
Nishant
Hi Nishu,
and sorry for the late response, but I had to give up helping out for free on this website, as I simply drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
Im in my school band (about 50 people) and i kept dreaming about us together for 4 years. It not usually the same thing. It usually including a lot of running and powers. What does it mean?
Hi Glenn,
and sorry for the late response, but I had to give up helping out for free on this website, as I simply drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
Hi Michael,
I need help. I’m a teacher to adults and work in a private language school. For the last few years I have had the same dream: I miss work because I cannot get there in time for the classes. It’s like something holds me back. I miss the 9 am class and then despite having 2 hours to get to school for 11 am class I still miss it. It’s like everything around holds me back. In my dream I feel like a child when I explain the situation to my manager, its humiliating and irresponsible and I know eventually I will lose my job, so I feel guilty too, but there is also an element of joy very, very deep inside. Recently I started getting similar dreams in different situation. E.g. Staying in the hotel an extra night because I don’t want to finish the holiday.
Please help 😉
Hi Patricia,
and sorry for my very late response, but I had to give up helping out for free on this website, as I literally drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I’ve had those kind s dreams a lot in the past. The purpose of these dreams, (imho) is to find a way to reach you. To break out of your cage you’ve made for your daily life. To be more connected with your life.
I keep having a recurring nightmare. It’s the apocalypse, and I bolt. I grab everything I need for survival(bow and arrow, first aid kit, tent), and I hop in my car and bolt. I run into a friend of mine(it’s a she. But not one I have feelings for. I am shut down, and coming off of a breakup). I teach her how to survive in the wild, and a disaster occurs where she is forced to put me out of my misery.
I broke up with my ex cause I wanted to be happy again. And, I am very happy right now. But I still keep having(and losing a lot of sleep over) this dream.
Hi Dave,
and sorry for my very late response, but I have simply given up helping out for free on this website, as I literally drown in requests. Instead I offer help the following way: http://www.michaelrolsen.com/dreamcoaching. Best regards – Michael
I have had dreams of repeating a task. These dreams are very vivid and are often confused with real life. I often find out about them when I am corrected by a person in the dream. Usually something is very off. One off my repeated task dreams was that I kept picking up a pencil and trying to draw something but every time I would drop my pencil.
Hi Jesse,
this might be about how you constantly try to start something new, or to imagine a (better?) future for yourself, but also how you are constantly prevented from doing that. But since I do not know you or your specific life situation – it is hard to know. Best regards – Michael R Olsen