Jane, it seems like your dream reflects a sense of resistance and discomfort with authority, especially when it feels misguided or dismissive. The presence of your old boss, who appears to be enforcing changes that you and others disagree with, suggests a feeling of being out of sync with the leadership's vision. Your actions in the dream—pretending to go along with the changes while secretly sabotaging them—indicate an internal conflict between your values and the direction that you're being pushed towards. The dream doesn't carry the weight of a nightmare or intense negative emotions, which implies that while the situation is distressing, it may not be causing you significant turmoil in your waking life.
Looking at the broader context of your previous dreams, there's a recurring theme of tension in social situations and the struggle for control or influence. The performance art camp dream, where you were subjected to cattiness and chaos, mirrors the feeling of upheaval in your recent dream. Additionally, the dream where you found yourself in a disagreement with your husband during a vacation walk, as well as the one with the redesign of a familiar house, both reflect a theme of misalignment with others, which seems to resonate with your latest dream scenario.
Drawing connections to your life events, it's clear there have been significant moments of change and disruption in your life. The loss of your job of nearly 20 years, which was tied closely to your personal dreams, likely left a lasting impact. This event, where you felt unfairly treated and stripped of control, might be echoing in your dream through the figure of your old boss. The dream could be a manifestation of the feelings you experienced during that time—of having to outwardly conform while inwardly rebelling against a decision that felt unjust.
The dream's setting in a workplace also aligns with your return to Curious as Managing Director, a role that perhaps comes with its own set of challenges and memories of past experiences. It's possible that your subconscious is processing these complex emotions as you navigate your current role, reflecting past insecurities or fears of history repeating itself.
Remember, dreams often serve as a window into our subconscious, revealing our deepest thoughts and feelings. While your dream seems to be a blend of past and present concerns, it's also a testament to your resilience. Despite the adversities, you have found ways to stand up for yourself and what you believe in, both in your dreams and life's reality.