Dreams can be compared to a daily newspaper. You read the newspaper to find out what is happening in the world. Reading/interpreting your dreams can tell you what is happening in your interior world.
There are many different types of dreams. Some are nonsense dreams. You recognize these right away because of their bizarre quality. You will often see things in these dreams that you saw on television or in a movie, heard in a song, or had been part of a conversation you were having right before you went to bed. This is your brain's attempt at dumping unnecessary thoughts and images.
The dreams that give you clues of your interior world are the dreams that stick with you. You may wake up with only the memory of a single scene in the dream. As the day or week goes on, you may remember other pieces of the dream or may find your mind returning to that single scene. These are the indications of a dream that is much more significant that a mind dump. Your brain and your soul are trying to get your attention.
To take a peek into your soul via your dream may take a little time. It is a bit like solving a puzzle. You are the detective investigating your own life. Take some time to describe the dream to a friend or write about it in detail. Just in the process of describing the dream, the message of the dream may become apparent. If the awareness does not come right away, try visualizing the dream again. What draws your attention? What do you feel? Your feelings about the dream may give you a clue about your feelings related to something happening in real life.
The best way I have found to interpret a dream is to consider every person in the dream as a part of you. If your mother is in your dream, she doesn't represent your real mother, but your own mothering qualities. A stranger in a dream may represent a part of yourself you don't know very well. Looking at a dream from this perspective will allow you greater access to the dream's message. Your mind cannot suppose how another person would react in a situation. Your mind can only play out how you would react. This is why most people in a dream, and sometimes animals, too, represent you.
The next time a dream sticks with you, take the time to peek into your soul. You may discover something about yourself bubbling under the surface that will help you make better decisions. Following your soul's urgings will always lead to a happier life.