Trouble with reality check!

[LittleStar]

I'm having a large problem with RC's at the moment. I am by no means an accomplished dreamer, and to fat heave only had a couple of full lucid moments before waking, and so far they have been attained with reality checks. The only victory I put down is one where I got scared so I yelled I was dreaming, realisd then that i was, then did reality checks and woke up. I havent been a a situation to try any other techs for a while, im far too tired and having trouble getting to sleep in general, so... But recently, four or five times in the lat month, I've RC'd in a dream, and the result has come out positive... But I don't think anything of it. What's going on?? When I RC in the day I take half a minute or so to think how I got in the room, or if it was real and tuff, but this isn't translating to my dream. One dream, I had gone so far to say that I was dreaming, and there was a who, VR room. My dream character said, if this is making real dreams I should be able to breathe with my nose plugged. (my RC of choice, along with finger through hand most times as well) I tried it in the dream, and breathed perfectly and said, wow well done you've made a perfect dream machine. Or something along thos lines. And just lat night, prompting this post, I had the walking through treacle feeling, which I know happens a lot in my dreams, so I thout to myself, hmm, this happens on my dreams, I should do an RC. It worked, but I took no notice and carried on with the dream. This is really frustrating, cause DILD is so far the only method I've had any luck with, and now that's broken! Anyone have any advice for me??

[paigeyemps]

Hmm you should put more depth into your reality checks. It's good that you do it a lot already, and that you take time to do it. Try adding some more "why" questions in there. For example, when you ask yourself "Am I dreaming?", and you answer "no", ask yourself why. What makes it reality? You can say.. This is not a dream because I can't breathe when I plug my nose. This is not a dream because when I jump, gravity is normal. This is not a dream because the letters do not change no matter how I try to change them. Etc. Don't stop at simply asking if it's a dream, push your finger through your hand, plug your nose, done. Solidify your answers. Prove to yourself why it is or isn't a dream. Because if you don't, your dream self will do the same. Also, I recommend practicing more awareness during the day. Notice your surroundings, pay attention. It is that awareness that goes over when you dream, and that will initially prompt you that something is off, then that will make you reality check, then get lucid. For many people (including me), they RC after becoming lucid, because first they get lucid through awareness, then solidify their doubt via RCs. Hope this helps.

[MasterMind]

Since paigeyemps already made an excellent post about reality checks I can instead give you a nice method of getting rid of sleep problems. In order to dream we need to sleep, and in order to get peaceful dreams we need to get to sleep peacefully. My friend used to have sleep problems, and I told him to start meditation "What's the point of that he asked?" and I said that it's peaceful and an excellent tool for relaxing both the body and the mind. It doesn't have to be anything complicated, just begin by removing stress and daily thought from your mind, for example you might have a test tomorrow or an important task or anything else. Close your eyes tell yourself mentally "Nothing is going to disturb my sleep" then think of something that stresses you and mentally put it in a chest, box, safe whatever you choose. When you are finished close it and turn away from it. Now start by focusing on your breath, take deep breaths and as you inhale count a number and then exhale. If thoughts like "Why am I doing this?" or "This is boring!" or "Tomorrow I am going to..." enters the mind, just return to the breath and mentally observe what these thoughts are emotions, questions. Be above the self sort of. You will get what I mean. I am almost certain that if you do this you will not even reach 100 and you'll fall asleep like a lamb. My friend is still using this and both stress and sleep problem have decreased in his life Also feel free to put in a mantra somewhere in this process and it can work both as a relaxation method and lucid dreaming method But remember that this will not only reduce stress and sleep problems it will actually increase your awareness within the dream! If you put aside all the thoughts of the day and things that concerns you, it will no longer disturb you in your dreams because we dream of the thing we surpress as well. So now you will instead dream about more clear things, you will feel more aware of the dream and that increases the chance of you to remember to perform reality checks and also to notice something strange in the dream. So in other words going to sleep peacefully gives you higher general awareness. Sleep tight.

[LittleStar]

Thanks guys. I do try the breathing and concentrating to help me sleep, just recently I've had a lot to think about, so I guess thatll sort out before long... I hope I've started adding more to my RC during the day, so hopefully in a few days that will bleed into my dreams, and I'll have an update then. But, I've been practicing 'lucid living' for a few months now. Not hardcore, just a few minutes at a time when I remember to do so. My problems with that come from not remembering to do it often enough, or getting distracted if I try when reading or watching the world go by, or whatever I'm doing at the time. And I don't know exactly what to notice or be aware of. I try to feel the weight of my footsteps, or the wind, my blinking, my breathing. Other peoples breathing and walking, their conversations. All sounds I can here, birds, cars, animals etc. is this right. And how much do I need to notice about them? As much as I can? I like to think that I am aware enough that I do it unconsciously to some degree, but how can I know?

[paigeyemps]

That is an excellent habit already. And to do it unconsciously would mean you're starting to get used to it, and that it is bleeding into your lifestyle. Just don't rely on it too much that it loses its meaning too and you might do it without much thought anymore. I think it is also important to appreciate those little details too even if you're used to them already. Not sure if you've read this, but if you haven't, you should! http://www.dreamviews.com/f49/all-da...gyoshi-113253/ And yep, I guess the idea is to notice them as much as you can. Good luck!

[MasterMind]

Being aware to me means to be in the moment and not in your thoughts. It's a very peaceful thing to do and it reduces stress and for me it's a form of waking life meditation. So be above your own thinking. Instead of thinking about what you are going to do later, or about some tv-serie whatever, be in the moment and observe what you see, hear, smell and feel maybe taste. Awareness is to percieve and understand information and your five senses is what you use to pick up information. Be aware of your situation, but don't analyze or judge just observe. This last part is sometimes difficult, but in a dream this is very useful because it makes you more aware of the dream and makes it a little more clear and stable. Then reality check to become aware of if your experience is physical or non-physical. The general awareness I described first is just to become more aware of the situation and make it less chaotic, because thoughts tend to do so.