I dreamed I was working at a restaurant again. (It’s a recurring dream. In the recurring dream, it’s a job a used to really work, but now in my dreams, I’m working there again. In the recurring dreams, I often forget I still work there, I forgot the table numbers, & I don’t know no one has trained me on the new menus or how to ring orders in. In those dreams, everyone still really likes me and thinks well of me). Well, last I dreamed I was working in a restaurant. Instead of waiting tables and bartending, the managers had me helping everyone else. I worked really hard making everyone else’s job easier. I’d help the dishwasher, the kitchen, I’d bus tables, whatever was needed. Typically people who do things like that are tipped out, but I didn’t even ask for a tip out. I just helped wherever help was needed, and I wasn’t paid very much. Again everyone there really liked me, except a general manager who visited seemed not to. He told my managers to get rid of me, what was I there for anyway, he was tired of seeing my face. I remembered I had met him a couple of times while working. He’d be dressed in a uniform working on things, I guess trying not to seem like a manager. But I thought through each of those times, and I was working hard then too. Well he called in someone from somewhere else to interview me, like to see if I actually worked. I was sitting in this interview with this woman explaining everything. I thought I don’t even really like this and they don’t pay me much, I should just quit now, but I may need the money until I found something else. The woman interviewing me had to leave for a moment. Then I looked over and saw my best friend at another table (she used to be best friends in real life, but we’ve grown apart). I though I’d ask her and do whatever she said. But I was also very embarrassed for her to see me possibly losing my job. Anyway, when I went to ask her, she was no longer there. Then the woman came back to continue chatting with me about what I do at the restaurant. Then I woke up.
Dreams often reflect our subconscious thoughts and feelings, and this particular dream seems to be rich with themes related to work, identity, relationships, and self-worth. Here are some possible interpretations of the various elements of your dream:
Recurring Setting: The restaurant represents a space associated with your past experiences and possibly unresolved feelings. Since you worked there previously, this recurring dream might indicate you are grappling with feelings related to that period in your life, such as nostalgia or unresolved issues about that job.
Role and Contribution: Your role in the dream involves selflessly helping others and making their jobs easier, which suggests a portrayal of your character as someone who is caring and supportive. This could indicate a deep-seated need you have to be helpful and appreciated, not just in a work environment but in your life as a whole. However, the lack of recognition or financial reward might reflect feelings of being undervalued or taken for granted in your current circumstances.
Manager's Disapproval: The presence of the general manager who disapproves of you and suggests you should be let go may symbolize feelings of inadequacy or fear of judgment. This could be related to your current job situation or other aspects of your life where you feel scrutinized or not accepted.
Interview and Validation: The interview can symbolize a need for validation or fear of being evaluated. You may feel uncertain about your current situation (both personally and professionally), and the idea of needing to explain yourself to someone from your past may indicate fears about how others perceive your choices and path in life.
Friendship and Support: The absence of your best friend when you seek support may suggest feelings of isolation or a longing for connection. It could represent your feelings about relationships that have changed over time and a desire for guidance or affirmation from those you care about.
Ambivalence Towards Job: The realization during the interview that you don’t really like the job but feel the need to stay for the income shows a common struggle between financial security and personal satisfaction. This ambivalence may reflect your current work or life situation, where you feel stuck but also recognize your current obligations.
Overall, this dream may be urging you to reflect on your current circumstances in your life—such as feelings of being undervalued, the need for support from friends, and your relationship with work. It might be beneficial to explore where you stand in terms of your career and personal relationships and consider if changes are needed to align more closely with what brings you fulfillment and joy.