Thread: Need help with concentration (for WILDing).

I've come to a point where it seems to me that I can't achieve lucidity through WILD for one simple reason: I can't concentrate for long enough.
Yesterday evening when in bed I even counted how long it took me before I went off to think about something else (I counted 1-I'm dreaming, 2-I'm dreaming, etc.) and was amazed to find that after like 20 I started to willingly drift off to other thoughts.
This is an important matter and any techniques for improving concentration would be appreciated.
Perhaps meditation? Or something else?

I'd love to get a hold of some aderol so i can concentrate on ANYTHING. Anyway the only thing you can do is practice. Try focusing on your breathing and your heartbeat until you start to fall asleep and your attention span gets longer (if you're like me)

Dude we got the same problem.. Im like "1. I am dreaming.... 2. I am dreaming... 3... hey look a butterfly!" I cannot concentrate wortha shit!

Next link should be giving very good example of concentration:

http://www.hypnosis-kids.com/visualization.htm

Hmm, the thing here is that visualization is exactly what I -don't- need. I don't see what visual image can correspond to the idea of lucid dreaming and at the same time not distract me from it. Any ideas of what visual image to uphold that would be precise in relation to lucidity?

Originally posted by coreysnyder
Dude we got the same problem.. Im like \"1. I am dreaming.... 2. I am dreaming... 3... hey look a butterfly!\" I cannot concentrate wortha shit!

LMAO!! This strikes me as funny cuz I can so relate!!

Well I find that not trying it to much(Like 20 times a night) it will come to ya as long as you have it in mind, just go to bed, relax like if you´re going to sleep, think whatever you have on you´re mind till you get sleepy, now from HERE on concentrate on not getting to exited or distracted but at the same time try no to think on anything but the fact of how it feels to sleep or going to the procces, but don´t overthinkit either, just stay there long enough for you to be concius till you sleep, you´ll find it easy after a coulpe of trys.

Hmm, just today I woke up really early in the morning and was still very sleepy. So I decided to attempt WILDing. But as I kept thinking to myself "1 - I'm dreaming, 2 - I'm dreaming, etc." I only began feeling more awake. Constant thought keeps me from falling asleep even when I'm really sleepy.
Remembering LaBerge's "Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming" he described the WILD method as observing hypnagogic imagery as passively as possible. So I'm thinking that thinking too actively won't help, rather I should relax and only think of hypnagogic imagery as lightly as possible and anticipate it but without too much mental stress or intense thinking.

I also have a really hard time with concentration to produce a WILD. I've found that what works best for me is breathing deeply and try to focus on nothing but the sound of your breath. As soon as you catch your mind wandering just bring it back to breathing and staying as calm and relaxed as you can. Eventually, the more relaxed you get, you'll start to feel certain sensations like little tingles and vibrations and your body goes numb. They are the natural sensations your body feels when your brainwaves start to slow, only here your mind stays awake while your body falls asleep. Even when you are relaxed like this it is still really easy to get distracted (ie. "look, a butterfly" ) because of the hypnogogic imagery that you naturally experience while falling asleep, but in this state it will be easier to hold an image in your mind.

As for an image to focus on that is specific to lucid dreaming, just pick something easy. You might even try actually looking at something before your experiment like a doorknob or an apple and memorize it as best you can. The trick is (once you are relaxed and losing sensation in your body) hold an image in your mind as clearly as you can and incorporate motion (move around the apple, walk through and around the door, ski lift, etc.). The explanation for this that I read is once you lose your body sensation, your mind will start creating a dream world around your visualized object to rationalize the sensation of movement. Even if you fall asleep during the experiment, don't be discouraged. At the very least you will have inadvertently practiced mnemonic induction and your chances for lucidity will be higher.

Ok, some suggestions. well... first some explanation. You see, the technique WILD is very much like sitting in stillness, a Zen Buddhism practice. practicing zen techniques such as this may actually help you immensely. (try Zazen)

Anyway, some practice tips (or suggestions) If you have trouble doing WILD at normal bed times, mix it with WBTB or try it during a midday nap. I've found my concentration to be nearly doubled when I do either of these. next, the comfort level of where you are sleeping. When I was attempting WILD, I often would like to sink into a warm bed (it's cold here, by the way) and then start. This was a mistake, because it made me so comfortable that I was unable to keep my mind on the task. so, if your bed is lavishly adorned with many warm or fluffy blankets, take a few, or all of them, off.

If you want to get a normal sleep schedule, you can also try going to bed an hour early, so that your mind is still fresh. That's all I can think of now, good luck on your training

I always get to like the part where i think i have almost done a WILD and i will like have an itch. It distracts me and i have to start over again. Should i scratch it or just try to ignore it?