Wondering what that crazy dream you had could possibly mean? Don't let it keep you up at night—our in-house dream analyst Layne Dalfen, author of the Have a Great Dream books, is here to help you make sense of it all. In a twice-monthly column for Oprah Daily, Layne draws upon her decades of experience to explore what a reader's dream is trying to tell them.

Dear Dream Catcher,

For a long while, I've very often had a recurring dream, which has recently returned. I find myself with legs so heavy, I can’t move quickly to my destination, which is very frustrating. Sometimes, I’ll even be barefoot…I’ll be walking or driving with no shoes. What does this mean?! What is holding me back?

Heavy Legs

Dear Heavy Legs,

I like to compare a recurring dream that repeats over a long period of time to a favorite expression. The unconscious mind is like a vast database, filled with memories and associations we’ve made since childhood. When you want to say something to yourself, that database opens up, and your brain chooses images that fit whatever it is that you want to express.

For instance, let’s say that one day eight years ago, you had an assignment due and were procrastinating—that is, “dragging your feet” about getting it done. At the time, your unconscious mind chose the heavy legs theme from its vast pool of associations in order to encourage your conscious self to get to work!

Now, when you find yourself stalling in another life situation, this same expression can pop up again. If this idea clicks for you, ask yourself: Is there a recent scenario in which you’re putting something off?

Let’s not get stuck there, though. Since you’re experiencing frustration in your dream, maybe this image points not to procrastination, but instead to feeling unable to get where you want to go. Perhaps this isn’t a case of avoidance, but rather, you can’t get where you want to be quickly enough.

Have you recently felt impatient to achieve a goal that seems to be taking too long? A work promotion, for example, or a certain relationship milestone. Whatever it is, you wish it wasn't taking so long.

In some of the dreams, you describe yourself “walking or driving with no shoes.” This image may convey that it seems like you don’t have the necessary materials to get you where you want to go yet. Even though your slow pace is frustrating, movement is still possible in the dream. You’ll ultimately get to where you’re going, and you seem to already know that.

Let’s fan this out a little more. Perhaps you use these images in relation to someone in your life who’s keeping you from getting where you want to go. That could be, say, a relationship in which your goal is marriage, but your partner doesn’t feel the same. On the professional front, perhaps a co-worker or superior at your job is “holding you back.” Your dream may be encouraging you to push back at the person or people who are putting these perceived restrictions on you.

I love how you finish by asking, “What is holding me back?” Here you, yourself have posed the poignant question! This recurring dream urges you to explore what’s keeping you from reaching your goals faster. If you realize you don’t yet have the tools required to reach your goal, this might provide some comfort.

If, on the other hand, this is a story about procrastinating, the simple fact that your dreaming mind keeps experiencing frustration might be just the trick to motivate you into action.

Whatever it is that triggers the image of heavy legs, your healthy unconscious has succeeded in grabbing your attention! In this way, your dreams lead to brainstorming—and solutions typically follow soon after.

Layne Dalfen, author of the Have a Great Dream books, is our in-house dream analyst who writes the Dream Catcher column. She draws upon her decades of experience to explore what a reader’s dream is trying to tell them. Learn about Layne’s work on her website, or by following her on Instagram.