How do you know you had a dream last night? Not because someone told you. Not because you think it was real. You know because you saw it on a screen in your mind and because of the felt sense—that subtle, familiar quality of oh right, that happened… but not here, not now, not anymore—it’s gone. But it happened, like a dream.
You can have that same feeling when remembering childhood friends. Or an old neighborhood. Or a long-forgotten moment. There’s a dreamlike texture to it—a soft edge, a floating presence.
Life, from a nondual perspective, is the same. It mirrors that dream-state. And in moments of clarity—spontaneously or through psychotherapy practices—we remember. Not facts, but essence.
Seeing life as a dream isn’t about fantasy. It’s about perception. When you’re in a dream, you’re convinced. But when you wake up, you become the watcher. The dream dissolves into awareness.
And here’s the kicker: that same awareness was there the whole time. Watching.
In nondual teaching, we use this as a pointer. You’re not the one who’s aware—you are the awareness. The person, the identity, the role—those are appearances within awareness.
That’s why Wayne Liquorman talks about the pendulum. You can live at the bottom—swinging in reactions—or at the top, watching it swing. Same life. Different view.
When I sit with clients in EMDR, and they begin to shift into witness consciousness, they’ll often say things like: “It’s weird—it’s like I’m watching it instead of being in it.” That’s not disconnection nor dissociation. That’s awakening.
So how do I know I had a dream? I feel it. And how do I know I’m waking up? I feel that too.
It’s not a belief. It’s a recognition. A remembering. A returning.
And what I return to—is what I’ve always been: Awareness.
And maybe, at the very end—at the moment of passing—Eckhart Tolle suggests the final thought is something simple, something clear: Oh, my life… it was a dream.
What does awakening feel like to you? We’d love to hear your reflections in the comments.
~ Jordan Shafer/nmm
Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.
Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy.
Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy.
Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.
Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.
