How to make it last longer?

Hi there, newbie here.

After weeks of dream journal writing, reality checks and conditioning my mind before i go to sleep, i finally had one lucid dream last night and i was really self aware but....it only lasted like probably less than 30 seconds.

I was in a dream then automatically i did a reality check by looking at both my hands to see if i had all the fingers and my ring, then i saw my missing left thumb and immediately i was self aware and I then decided to start thinking of what to do here since I know I'm dreaming, as I started to walk the pathway a few steps, 'poof' I woke up in the middle of the night.

Anyone could share and elaborate how I can possibly go longer and not waking up so soon?

Thanks,

Try to use your senses once you're lucid, touching, smelling etc. So you will ground yourself. Also (maybe) try to think about what you want to do in your next lucid dream when youre awake, instead of in the dream itself. If you try to think about a goal in the dream itself rather when awake, your thoughts could wander off to all all the possibilities and all the stuff you could do instead of focusing on your surroundings, so that could distract you if it happens, so either you could loose lucidity again or wake up.

Ps: Talking to yourself could also work, as it probably will help you to stay lucid, while also listening to yourself. Though I think its not necessary haha. But using senses, like touching stuff to stabilize the dream generally helps.

There are also alot of Stabilizing Techniques around:

http://www.dreamviews.com/wiki/Dream...arity-Tutorial

Maybe that will help you too, just remember its not about a specific technique like examing your hand like described in the tutorial but more about the fundamentals like stabilizing your state of mind, grounding yourself into the dreamworld etc. and the examing hand stuff is just a tip how this could work, but maybe its not for you so just think about something else. Like I said for me just using my senses more after I became lucid and did a RC works to stabilize the dream and ground/anchor myself into it. Just read a bit around and try stuff out, I am sure you will find a technique/something that helps you to ground yourself better in the dream next time.

What I do, is that when the dream starts i immediately grab or touch something(Street lamp, wall, tree etc.). Once I even licked the wall :shock:... But it works, it stabilizes the dream... You can do it from time to time in dream to sustain it. Also you can shout out loud : "Prolong Dream" or "Ommmmmm"(like in meditation). And it's important to have intention, because if you stagnate you will wake up. And yes, do not let your thoughts wander.

Its kind of like sex... takes self discipline if your in for the long hull. Finish up too fast and you'll cause some disappointment. =[
Really it just takes practice. The trick is to not get too excited once you realize your in a dream. You'll get it! Good luck =]

Congrats on lucid dream! :thumbup:
What Oceandrop said, to add to it also remember to be calm in the dream, many people wake up from their first lucid dreams due to excitement, also overall lucid dream quality and length will improve as you go on with lucid dreaming. :zzz:

Thanks, okay so it's all about stabilizing the state of mind in the dream. That's another challenge.

every lucid you have will be a step closer to perfection.