First Good Reality Check, But No Lucidity

Okay so I had quite nice recall tonight, and here is how one of the dreams went (don't worry, it's short.)

I was in my home bathroom doing whatever, then I looked out the window and saw two of my friends playing catch in a backyard. Out of the window though I saw three backyards only, that's it, just backyards, but that wasn't what I thought was weird. I couldn't recognize the backyard they were in. After a few seconds of thinking of how to get to it, I decided it wasn't real, and did a reality check, the nose plug. And yep, I breathed all right, this was the first time I completed a reality check in a dream. After that I ran outside and played frisbee with the two people in front of my house. I wasn't lucid though, and I think later that kind of hit me. I felt that the dream was foggy and hazy, so I tried a technique I remembered, looking at your hands. When I raised them in front of my face something snapped, something undescribable happened, they changed, whether it was vividness or color or looks. But I got a weird feeling in the dream and I think the surroundings changed a bit too. I don't know exactly what happened still because I woke up right after.

So I really feel there was a bit of awareness inside that dream, but it was definitely not lucid, when I think about the lucid I have had. I don't really know if I was questioning whether it was a dream or not during the reality check, and that may be the problem, but does anyone else have insight?

From the fact that you were aware that your surroundings weren't real, I'd wager you were semi-lucid. Maybe you became lucid at the very end, but I would think you would clearly remember becoming more aware. Keep in mind that lucid dreams vary in awareness and control, not all will be like your first.

How do you normally perform your RCs? Do you try to become more aware when you use them in waking life?

Yes but I have been forgetting lately. I usually question reality, observe surroundings, reality check, and confirm. Maybe I did become lucid at the end. My hands changed when I looked at them, I want to say they became more realistic, but I woke up immediately.

Edit: Lucid or not I'm happy because I can say I'm getting closer

Same thing happened to me two days ago, got the closest thing to lucidity, I was aware of dreaming but wasn't lucid, I think it means were close to reaching full lucidity.

Aeolus: That's significant progress, definitely. You should be pleased with yourself. :) Whatever you're doing is working, keep doing it! Though increasing the amount of RCs/awareness is always helpful.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ninjaa

Same thing happened to me two days ago, got the closest thing to lucidity, I was aware of dreaming but wasn't lucid, I think it means were close to reaching full lucidity.

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Ninjaa, if you were aware you were dreaming, then you were lucid.

I think you guys are being too hard on yourselves. Being aware that you are dreaming IS lucidity, whether anything else comes with it or not.

I really think a lot of this is just allowing the subconscious mind to adjust to what you are trying to do, and that just takes time.

Well I never really was aware of the fact that it was a dream. I never told myself I was dreaming, even after the reality check, that may have been the problem. I felt awareness as in I felt partially conscious of what was going on.