Flying dreams mean that you're doing the right thing with your

When Douglas Coupland, the chronicler of modern existence, wrote, “Flying dreams mean that you're doing the right thing with your life,” he spoke in the language of symbols, reaching back to the oldest dreams of humankind. His words shimmer with both simplicity and mystery, for they remind us that when the soul dreams of flight, it is not mere fantasy—it is a sign that the spirit has been set free. Coupland, known for capturing the pulse of a restless generation, understood that dreams are mirrors of the soul, and that when one dreams of soaring above the earth, unburdened and fearless, it means the soul has found harmony with its path.

To the ancients, dreams were portals between worlds—messages from the divine or reflections of the inner self. The Egyptians inscribed their dreams upon temple walls, believing them to be gifts from the gods. The Greeks spoke of Oneiros, the god of dreams, who carried visions from Olympus to mortal minds. In every culture, the dream of flight has held a special meaning: it is the dream of release, of transcendence, of the human spirit shaking off its chains. When Coupland speaks of it as a sign that one is “doing the right thing,” he echoes these ancient truths—that freedom of the soul comes only when one lives in accordance with one’s higher calling. To fly in a dream is to rise above the weight of doubt and regret; it is the spirit’s quiet whisper: you are becoming who you are meant to be.

Consider the story of Leonardo da Vinci, who spent his life sketching the impossible—the wings of machines that could lift humankind into the heavens. His notebooks were filled with the anatomy of birds and the geometry of flight, symbols of his yearning for transcendence. Leonardo was not simply fascinated by flight; he was moved by its metaphysical beauty. He believed that to fly was to come closer to divinity itself. Though his flying machines never left the ground, his imagination did—and in that, he was already soaring. His life reminds us that the dream of flight, whether literal or symbolic, belongs to those who have aligned their passions with their purpose.

Yet Coupland’s insight goes beyond the dream itself—it speaks to a state of being. When we are doing the right thing with our lives, when our actions are guided by authenticity rather than fear, our spirit grows light. We no longer crawl beneath the weight of “should” and “must.” Instead, we rise into what psychologists call flow—that sacred state where effort feels effortless, and creation becomes communion. In such moments, we are dreaming while awake. The boundaries between what is real and what is possible begin to blur, and like the dreamer in flight, we are lifted by joy, not obligation.

But when we stray from our true path, our dreams often darken. We find ourselves falling, running, or trapped. The ancient mystics believed that these dreams were warnings from the soul—a reminder that the spirit has become entangled in false desires. The flying dream, by contrast, is a benediction. It is the sign that the inner and outer worlds are aligned, that our deepest longings have found expression in our waking life. It does not promise perfection; rather, it reveals direction. It is the spirit’s way of saying, keep going—this is the way of freedom.

Even in the modern world, where we are tethered by screens and schedules, this ancient symbol retains its power. We may not fly on feathered wings, but we can still ascend through our work, our art, our love, our courage. The flight of the soul begins when we trust our instincts, when we listen to the quiet voice that says, “This is what you were made for.” Each act of authenticity is a gust of wind lifting us higher. And when fear tells us to stay grounded, to remain small, we must remember Coupland’s wisdom: that to dream of flying is to glimpse what happens when faith outweighs gravity.

So let this teaching be remembered: when you dream of flight, awaken with gratitude. Let that dream remind you that your life is moving in harmony with truth. Do not measure your worth by what others call success, but by the lightness of your spirit, by the sense that you are becoming more yourself each day. Seek what sets your soul alight, and you will find your wings. For as Coupland teaches, the dream of flight is not fantasy—it is affirmation. It is the whisper of the eternal saying: You are free, and you are on your way.