Gap between stimulus and response and becoming lucid

**Bobblehat** · 01-13-2014 08:56 AM

I was wondering if awareness of the gap between stimulus and response can achieve lucidity. It seems like becoming lucid is the ultimate gap between stimulus and response: An angry gorilla appears at your door, if you become lucid you can completely ignore the stimulus - the gorilla (if you choose to) and choose better things to do for the rest of the dream (the response).

I was looking for a point in my NLDs that could be called, "Most aware moment". I think that moment may be the gap between someone talking to you (asking a question in particular) and you answering. This is the most aware moment because you've heard a question, there is a pause for thought, and - like in real life - you use that moment to consider your answer (or other options).

Could the focus on that moment help becoming lucid? When you complete your DJ you could spot this moment and see how you used that delay - log what you though and how you answered. In WL you could become aware of the gap when someone talks to you and you could become more aware of your options - and aware that there is indeed a gap between stimulus and response; the aim is to carry this over into dreams.

**StephL** · 01-13-2014 11:52 AM

Don't know about lucidity and the gap - but I find it nice that you mention it.
To be aware of that gap being there - in the sense of being aware, that it is not the stimulus, which causes a reaction directly - but that you are in there - having the gap to decide, what to do - even how to feel about the stimulus to a certain degree - by way of your cognition, your thinking - for me is the ultimate meaning of freedom.

And we ourselves are the ones to grant us that freedom - or live in the illusion of having no choice*.
I always liked the English word equanimity - nails it on the head.

But sorry - I off-topic your interesting thread here...
Yes - I think being in the habit of being aware of the gap and what it means should indeed heighten the chance of "spontaneous lucidity".
Just I can't contribute a personal viewpoint from experience..

*Not wanting to go deeper into the free-will discussion now, though..

**LouaiB** · 01-13-2014 05:25 PM

You mean like a DS with hightened awareness? I know what you mean, and think it is good to have that awareness, but not good alone. If you can find a more occuring DS, even if it envoces less awareness, you should stick with that too. So, rely on this DS, but not alone, and don't forget to train your prospective memory

**StephL** · 03-26-2014 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by Bobblehat

I was wondering if awareness of the gap between stimulus and response can achieve lucidity. It seems like becoming lucid is the ultimate gap between stimulus and response: An angry gorilla appears at your door, if you become lucid you can completely ignore the stimulus - the gorilla (if you choose to) and choose better things to do for the rest of the dream (the response).

I was looking for a point in my NLDs that could be called, "Most aware moment". I think that moment may be the gap between someone talking to you (asking a question in particular) and you answering. This is the most aware moment because you've heard a question, there is a pause for thought, and - like in real life - you use that moment to consider your answer (or other options).

Could the focus on that moment help becoming lucid? When you complete your DJ you could spot this moment and see how you used that delay - log what you though and how you answered. In WL you could become aware of the gap when someone talks to you and you could become more aware of your options - and aware that there is indeed a gap between stimulus and response; the aim is to carry this over into dreams.

Did you try this for a while?
How did it go?

**Tygar** · 03-26-2014 03:05 PM

I can definitely see your point. When you engage your cognitive abilities you are engaging your conscious thoughts. It would seem you are closer to becoming “aware” in those moments. I can see where you could use this a place to do a reality check.