Thread: You are or aren't

Think sometimes we focus too much on "motivation". Motivation should not be addressed as number 1 tool for anything, because naturally it's already present in anything you want to achieve in your life. It's like saying "motivation is the most important thing to get a job"; "motivation is the most important thing to be good at math"; "motivation is the most important thing to score a goal"; "motivation is the most important thing to cook". It's not.

It's already established that you will perform certain cognitive tasks better than other person if you're applying the best methods, whether you are motivated or not. Sure performance increases in the face of a positive stimulus when comparing to a neutral/negative one, but people tend to overestimate that impact, and then we have silly ideas showing up like the law of attraction.

Simple concepts for lucid dreaming:

- It takes time. A very long time to become good at.
- It's repetitive: you can do some task variation, but ultimately you're still be improving memory, developing awareness, and building expectation.
- Scientists still don't know exactly the best way to induce lucidity on a regular basis. We know that techniques like MILD/Reality checks/WILD/etc work, and we know that all of them are based on the same principles (mentioned on the point above). As to what's exactly the best way to develop those factors, no one knows (yet).

Motivation is only relevant on the part of "performing lucid dreaming practices", not lucid dreaming induction itself. If that was the case, people with high frequency would experience major fluctuations depending on their mood. Not to mention that a deep ingrained habit like a reality check that pops up regularly in your dreams won't stop happening because you don't feel like lucid dreaming.

If you want to be successful as a lucid dreamer (regardless of method, except if you're using some clearly bad techniques), then direct most of your effort on psychology of habit and goal-achievement, so your can train your brain to the pattern of self-questioning and awareness (along with improved memory).
Motivation is a bonus, not a tool: there will be times where you won't be able to rely on it, and it's exhausting if you're trying to become a good lucid dreamer purely on your willpower (which get's drained the more you use it!). For anyone who hasn't realized, this is precisely the reason we advice people not to "overthink" when trying to achieve lucid dreams: sure it can get your a lucid, but it's the long and hard journey of creating the habit that will be responsible for your success.