I dreamed that my high school club senior, Eric, was planning to open an Italian restaurant. He held a training session at the restaurant, but I was the only one who showed up. He gave me a brief lesson, and afterward, we headed to an outdoor plaza, like an American-style open space, to get coffee.
Holding my coffee, I looked for an empty table to sit at. I spotted one by the railing and casually stepped over it to take a seat. Meanwhile, Eric took the long way around to find the proper entrance before joining me. I burst out laughing, realizing how old-fashioned my behavior seemed—just hopping over instead of going the long way like he did.
As we sat down and talked, Eric initially didn’t admit to his failure. But as the conversation went on, I realized he, too, had failed in business and was starting over. We opened up to each other.
I told him he wasn’t the only one. I mentioned that everyone from our club year was doing well in life. I had done fine academically back then, yet now I was struggling the most. The others probably felt sorry for me—even if they never said it outright, I could sense it. I reassured Eric, saying, “No matter how bad things are for you, at least they’re not as bad as they are for me.”
Then, the scene shifted—I was sweeping the floor in his restaurant. I told him, “No matter how bad things get, if we’re starting over, we have to get our hands dirty and do the work.”
I continued, “There’s no need to put on a front and act like you’ve got everything under control. When it’s time to bow your head and start over, just do it.”
It was only then that Eric finally admitted how bad his situation really was. I told him, “Then roll up your sleeves and get to work! We have to take care of ourselves first, right?”
I kept encouraging him, saying, “What’s done is done. If life demands that we go through this, then let’s do our best to rise again. Standing firm—that’s what’s real.” I added, “If life has brought us to this low point, we just have to find a way to push through. At least, that’s what I tell myself every single day.” Then, I shared my own experiences with him.
夢見高中社團學長 Eric 計劃開義大利餐廳。他在餐廳裡辦訓練課程，結果只有我來，他簡單教了我一下。接著我們來到像是美式戶外廣場，要去喝咖啡。
我端著咖啡，想找空桌坐下來。看到一張空桌在圍欄旁，我一腳跨過圍欄坐到裡面。Eric 還繞了路找到入口，來到我佔的桌位旁。我哈哈大笑起來，覺得我的行為實在像老土，沒像他還去繞路找出入口。
我們坐下來聊聊天。一開始他並不承認他失敗了，後來我才聽出他也是生意失敗要重來，反正我們就這樣聊開來。
我跟他說他不是唯一。我說我們社團同屆其他人，每一個都混得很好。我明明當年唸書也不差，但我現在混得最差。其他人其實蠻同情我，雖然沒有說什麼，但我也感受得到。我安慰 Eric「你再糟，有我糟嗎？」
然後場景變成我像是在他的餐廳掃地，我跟他講「反正再糟，要重頭都得動手做啊！」
我跟 Eric 說「沒有必要在那邊強要假裝自己很 "牛逼"，反正該低頭時就要低頭，該要重來就重來。」
此時 Eric 才承認他的狀況其實很不好。我說「那就捲起袖子，自己動手做啊！我們要先把自己過好啊！對不對？」
我繼續安慰 Eric「事情既然已經發生了，人生註定就是要經歷這一段，就努力再重新爬起來。讓自己站穩，這個才是真實的啊！」「既然人生來到這個低潮，就想辦法撐過去。至少我每天都是這麼鼓勵我自己。」我就和他分享我的經歷。
根據榮格心理學，夢境是潛意識與意識之間的橋樑，能夠反映個人的內在狀態、未解決的衝突以及潛在的心理成長方向。以下從榮格的角度來解析這個夢境：
1. Eric 作為「陰影」或「另一個自我」的象徵
在夢中，Eric 可能代表你的「陰影」或「另一個自我」。榮格認為，陰影是我們不願意承認或面對的內在特質，可能是失敗、脆弱或自卑的部分。
Eric 計劃開餐廳但生意失敗，象徵你可能對自己的某些目標或人生方向感到挫折或懷疑。他的失敗與重來，反映你內在對失敗的恐懼以及重新開始的掙扎。
2. 餐廳與訓練課程的象徵
餐廳是一個提供滋養和社交的場所，可能象徵你對人生目標或事業的期待。訓練課程則代表學習與成長的機會。
只有你參加訓練課程，可能暗示你感到孤獨，或認為自己在某些方面需要更多的學習與準備。
3. 跨過圍欄的行為
你跨過圍欄直接坐到桌旁，而 Eric 繞路找入口，這可能反映你與 Eric 的不同處事方式。你的行為顯得直接甚至有些魯莽，而 Eric 則更遵循規則。
這可能象徵你在現實生活中對某些問題的處理方式：你可能傾向於跳過步驟或走捷徑，而忽略了一些細節或規則。
4. 與 Eric 的對話與自我揭露
你與 Eric 的對話中，透露出對自己現狀的不滿與對他人的比較。這反映你內在的自我懷疑與對成功的渴望。
你安慰 Eric 的話，如「你再糟，有我糟嗎？」和「該低頭時就要低頭」，其實是對自己的安慰與鼓勵。這顯示你在面對挫折時，試圖找到一種接納現實並重新開始的態度。
5. 掃地的象徵
掃地是一個基礎且務實的行為，象徵你意識到重新開始需要從最基本的事情做起。這可能反映你內在的覺醒：無論現狀如何，都需要腳踏實地地行動。
6. 低潮與重新站穩的啟示
夢中你提到「人生註定就是要經歷這一段」，這與榮格的「個體化」（Individuation）過程相呼應。個體化是接納自己的光明與黑暗面，並在經歷低潮後找到內在的平衡與成長。
你對 Eric 的鼓勵，其實是對自己的內在對話，顯示你正在努力接納自己的現狀，並尋找重新站起來的力量。
總結
這個夢境反映你內在對失敗、挫折與重新開始的掙扎。Eric 作為你的陰影或另一個自我，幫助你面對自己的脆弱與不完美。夢中的對話與行動，顯示你正在學習接納現實，並從基礎做起，重新建立自信與方向。榮格會認為這是一個積極的夢境，因為它展現了你內在的成長潛力與自我療癒的能力。
建議你在現實生活中，繼續接納自己的不完美，並以務實的態度面對挑戰。夢境已經為你指明了一條從低潮中走出來的道路：承認失敗，捲起袖子，重新開始。
這個夢境反映了韌性、自我接納和克服挫折的主題。透過榮格心理學的觀點進行分析，我們可以識別出代表你潛意識處理個人和職業掙扎的關鍵要素。
高中生（導師形象與自我投射）
Eric 作為你過去的一個年長人物，可能象徵著權威、經驗，或你欽佩或渴望成為的過去版本的自己。看到他像你一樣在事業失敗中掙扎，這表明了一種預測——他的經歷反映了你自己的經歷。你的潛意識可能會利用他，來處理你對失敗和重新開始的恐懼。
餐廳（野心與變革的象徵）
「餐廳」是創造和服務的場所，代表著雄心、滋養和變革。Eric 的餐廳生意陷入困境這一事實，可能象徵著你對重建事業或夢境專案的擔憂。你在他的訓練課程中的角色（你是唯一參加的人），可能反映出你在自己的旅程中的孤立感——追求一些有意義的事情，但沒有足夠的外部驗證或支持。
咖啡場景（對比方法和自我認知）
當 Eric 走了很長一段路時，你決定跳過欄桿，這可能代表了應對生活挑戰的不同方法。你的行為顯示了實用主義——尋找直接的前進道路——而 Eric 的繞道，反映了傳統的、遵守規則的方法。你的笑聲可能表示你意識到，儘管遇到挫折，你仍然有自己的生活方式，即使它是非常規的。
對話（面對失敗並尋求驗證）
與 Eric 的對話，揭示了關於失敗的內在對話。起初，他不承認自己的掙扎，這反映出人們經常隱藏自己的困難。然而，當你敞開心扉講述自己的經歷時，他終於承認了自己的艱辛。這種交流表明，你的潛意識正在透過不足、比較和驗證的需要來發揮作用——尤其是與你認為更成功的同齡人有關。
打掃餐廳（從頭開始重建）
「掃地」象徵謙卑、重新開始和承擔責任。這符合你在結束事務後重建專案的現實情況。清潔行為也可以代表心理清潔——放下驕傲、過去的失敗，或不切實際的期望，擁抱新的開始。
鼓勵的話語（內在的力量和肯定）
你對 Eric 所說的話－「捲起袖子，做好工作」和「堅定不移－這就是真實的」－是強而有力的肯定。雖然是針對他的，但它們很可能是你的潛意識向自己發出的信息。這些話反映了你的韌性和心態，儘管有懷疑和挫折，但這種心態仍然讓你堅持下去。
榮格的解釋：個人化和影子工作
這個夢境強調了與「陰影自我」的對抗──「陰影自我」是你對失敗和自我價值懷有不安全感的部分。透過與 Eric（你自己的一個投射的方面）進行誠實的對話，你正在將這些困難的情緒融入你的意識中。這個夢境顯示你正在積極克服恐懼，在掙扎中尋找意義，並重申你的信念：堅持不懈是你前進的唯一出路。
最終反思：擁抱旅程
你的潛意識似乎在提醒你，成功不是由外部驗證定義的，而是由繼續前進、適應和重建的能力決定的。儘管進展緩慢，但你的夢境反映了內在的韌性和前進的決心，即使其他人並不完全理解你的旅程。
Here are four different alternate endings for your dream, each emphasizing different themes—personal transformation, collective support, wisdom from the past, and a breakthrough moment.
1. Rebuilding Together (Theme: Collective Strength & Renewal)
As Eric and I talked, other familiar faces from our high school club unexpectedly started showing up at his restaurant. One by one, they joined in, sharing their own struggles—some had failed in business, some had changed careers, and others had faced personal hardships. The weight of comparison that had once made me feel alone began to dissolve.
Together, we started cleaning the restaurant, helping Eric reorganize and giving the place a fresh start. As I wiped a dusty table, I realized this wasn’t just about the restaurant—it was about all of us picking up the pieces and moving forward, no longer alone but with the silent understanding that we were all in this journey together.
2. A Mentor’s Visit (Theme: Wisdom & Perspective from the Past)
As I swept the floor of Eric’s restaurant, the door opened, and an elderly man walked in. It was our old high school teacher, the one who had guided us back in the day. He smiled knowingly, as if he had been expecting to find us there.
Sitting us down, he shared a story about how failure was never the opposite of success but rather its foundation. “Every great journey starts with a misstep,” he said. “What matters is not how you fell, but how you choose to stand up again.”
Hearing those words, I felt a weight lift. Eric and I looked at each other, no longer as two people ashamed of our failures, but as individuals ready to take on the next chapter.
3. The Unexpected Opportunity (Theme: A Sudden Breakthrough & Redemption)
As I finished my sentence—"We have to take care of ourselves first, right?"—the restaurant door swung open, and a group of customers walked in. At first, Eric hesitated, but I nudged him forward. “Your restaurant, your dream. Go.”
He took a deep breath and greeted them. To our surprise, they were from a local food magazine looking for stories of resilience in the restaurant industry. They sat down, eager to hear Eric’s story. Seeing the moment unfold, I realized that maybe failure wasn’t an ending but just an unexpected detour.
That day, something shifted—not just for Eric, but for me as well. Watching him step into his role again, I found renewed faith that my own path, though uncertain, was still unfolding.
4. A Farewell and a New Path (Theme: Letting Go & Embracing Change)
As I finished sweeping, I looked around the restaurant and suddenly felt something shift within me. I turned to Eric and said, “You know, maybe this isn’t my battle anymore.”
He looked at me, surprised. “What do you mean?”
I smiled. “I came here thinking I was the one who needed reassurance. But maybe… I was meant to be the one giving it.”
A sense of peace settled over me. I didn’t have all the answers, but I no longer felt trapped by my failures. I handed Eric the broom, patted him on the shoulder, and walked out into the sunlight, feeling lighter than I had in a long time.
As I stepped forward, I no longer felt lost—I was simply ready for whatever came next.
This dream reflects themes of resilience, self-acceptance, and navigating setbacks. Analyzing it through the lens of Jungian psychology, we can identify key elements that represent your subconscious processing of personal and professional struggles.
1. The High School Senior (Mentor Figure & Projection of the Self)
Eric, as an older figure from your past, may symbolize authority, experience, or a past version of yourself that you admired or aspired to be. Seeing him struggle with business failure, just as you have, suggests a projection—his journey mirrors your own. Your subconscious might be using him as a way to process your fears about failure and starting over.
2. The Restaurant (Symbol of Ambition & Transformation)
Restaurants are places of creation and service, representing ambition, nourishment, and transformation. The fact that Eric's restaurant venture is struggling could symbolize your own concerns about rebuilding your career or dream projects. Your role in his training session, where you were the only one who showed up, might reflect feelings of isolation in your own journey—pursuing something meaningful but without enough external validation or support.
3. The Coffee Scene (Contrasting Approaches & Self-Perception)
Your decision to hop over the railing while Eric took the long way might represent different approaches to life’s challenges. Your action suggests pragmatism—finding a direct way forward—while Eric's detour reflects a conventional, rule-following approach. Your laughter could indicate a realization that, despite setbacks, you still have your own way of navigating life, even if it’s unconventional.
4. The Conversation (Confronting Failure & Seeking Validation)
The conversation with Eric reveals an internal dialogue about failure. At first, he doesn’t admit his struggles, mirroring how people often hide their difficulties. However, as you open up about your own experiences, he finally acknowledges his hardships. This exchange suggests that your subconscious is working through feelings of inadequacy, comparison, and the need for validation—particularly in relation to your peers, whom you perceive as more successful.
5. Cleaning the Restaurant (Rebuilding from the Ground Up)
Sweeping the floor symbolizes humility, starting over, and taking responsibility. This aligns with your real-life situation of rebuilding your projects after closing your business. The act of cleaning could also represent psychological cleansing—letting go of pride, past failures, or unrealistic expectations to embrace a fresh start.
6. The Encouraging Words (Inner Strength & Affirmation)
Your words to Eric—"Roll up your sleeves and do the work" and "Standing firm—that’s what’s real"—are powerful affirmations. Though directed at him, they are likely messages from your subconscious to yourself. These words reflect your resilience and the mindset that has been keeping you going despite doubts and setbacks.
Jungian Interpretation: Individuation & Shadow Work
This dream highlights a confrontation with the shadow self—the part of you that harbors insecurities about failure and self-worth. By engaging in an honest conversation with Eric (a projected aspect of yourself), you are integrating these difficult emotions into your conscious awareness. The dream suggests you are actively working through your fears, seeking meaning in your struggles, and reaffirming your belief that perseverance is the only way forward.
Final Reflection: Embracing the Journey
Your subconscious seems to be reminding you that success isn’t defined by external validation but by the ability to keep going, adapt, and rebuild. Though progress is slow, your dream reflects an inner resilience and a determination to move forward, even if others don’t fully understand your journey.