Will this practice ever pay off?

[Eamo24]

For about 7 or 8 months now, I've been trying to get into the habit of reality checking to indoor/outdoor transitions. I reckoned it would be a good "dreamsign". It was very difficult in the beginning but after months of practice, it's gotten much easier to remember in reality, however there is still no realization of the transition in dreams. I wonder sometimes if maybe I'm wasting my time with it, or maybe habit formation should take longer than this? Is there a chance this could ever work? Thanks

[spellbee2]

What are you doing for the reality checks? Because that's where the habits that transfer to the dream are formed. If you're just simply doing the action without thinking about it, it'll take just about forever for that to make it into your dreams (if at all). Whenever you're doing RCs, you'll always want to put some thought and emotion behind it. Don't just plug your nose or push your finger through your palm, think about what it'd feel like if you were dreaming - imagine the air flowing through your closed nostrils or the tingling of your finger phasing through your palm. This is because emotions are much easier to translate to dreams than words or actions. Think of it this way: ever notice how watching a horror film before bed increases the chance that you'll have a nightmare? That's because your fear is heightened during the movie, and that fear is what translates to the dream world, giving you a scary dream. So the easiest way to build the habit of RCing that actually shows up in your dream to tie an emotion to them (similar to how mantras work much better if you tie them to an emotion - whether it's the joy of realizing you're dreaming or the feeling of power or strength as you act out whatever dream control you want to do).

[Eamo24]

Thanks for the advice What I would normally do is the pushing finger through palm check or the breathing one, and I would often do them very quickly as I'd normally be on the move with the triggers I've chosen to do them to (going in and out of buildings). I guess I could make more time on these occasions to put more into them. I will try to motivate myself to to put some emotion into them as well, like imagining what it would be like if I were dreaming at that moment or thinking about dream goals

[Sensei]

hello! techniques and tricks are really just guidelines to help us get to a lucid mindset, so just going through the motions or just continually doing the same thing will not pay off. I am not saying that continuing the same thing is bad (if you arent consistent you will never be consistent), but let your habbit be a habbit of continual growth. Eventually the techniques are just there if the feeling or mindset isnt strong. For instance, if i want a lucid dream tonight there are many things that i could do to increase the odds of one happening, but getting ready to sleep now, i think "no real reason to do those because i am already going to have a lucid." because I know that i am in the lucid mindset. here is a thread i made about what to expect while learning LDing. http://www.dreamviews.com/dreamviews...e-told-me.html something to help people decide if lding is right for them. Here is another thread (if LDing is your cup of tea) to help you on your way: http://www.dreamviews.com/general-lu...s-secrets.html

[Eamo24]

Thx for the advice, and the links I like the idea of mindset over techniques. I've never been very confident about my LD ability - for a long time I tried to come up with a technique or build some type of habits that would help to LD much easier. I often thought that if I did this, then my "intent" would be strong because I would know it would pay off, and as a result, I would most likely plan LD's, expect them etc. rather than worry about induction. I see what you mean because with that kind of mindset, ironically I may not need to rely on it I guess my issue is confidence that I will have an LD, but I will work on the techniques in the hope of being successful with them to the point I could perhaps achieve that mindset

[Sensei]

i hope that it helps. I do want to say that it isnt all about confidence. When I say "It is all about mindset" it doesnt mean "positive attitude all the time with all confidence". Even though those are amazingly good things (especially in a mental battle), I mean your actual mindset of the world around you. Your awareness and ability to surf the phase.

[Eamo24]

Okay thanks I take the advice