Thread: Reality checks - only when it's "too late"?

As JustASimpleGuy said, the purpose of reality checks in dreams is for confirmation. But I think in waking life, they serve a different purpose: we don't do reality checks IWL for the check itself, but for the awareness that comes with it. So by that logic, RCs are not really any better/worse than just practicing awareness. I tend to think of spontaneous RCs as 'moments of micro-awareness.'

Originally Posted by azrafox

Am I doing something inherently wrong by deciding the outcome before the test is done?

When you are in a dream it's fine, but IWL I think you have to gather at least a little doubt before performing the RC. If, for example, you're expecting that your fingers will not pass through your palm because you "know" that it's all real, then that same mindset might carry over to your dreams, and your RC in-dream might falsely indicate that you're awake!