Would this work as a MILD technique?

I was just wondering...

Rather than setting an intention to remember to realize you’re dreaming later, do you think it would be just as effective if you set an intention like this….

“The next time I’m OUT OF BED…I’ll know I’m dreaming” or “The next time I SEE THINGS…I’ll know I’m dreaming”

^ They’re still based on prospective memory, which is the essence of MILD

The thing is, I’ve been practicing regular MILD consistently for about 2 months (every night) and still find it quite difficult and confusing…but I don’t want to give up, so I was hoping the approach I’ve listed would make things a bit easier.

Do you think it would work though?? :S

What about MILD is confusing you? I don't think it matters what the statement of intention is, as long as it conveys your intention to become lucid and you understand it that way. Maybe you could explain your overall process as well, so we know what you are doing.

Also, I posted a review of Dreaming and Awakening, where Stephen LaBerge gave us some tips on MILD. They might be helpful to you.

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Originally Posted by ThreeCat

What about MILD is confusing you? I don't think it matters what the statement of intention is, as long as it conveys your intention to become lucid and you understand it that way. Maybe you could explain your overall process as well, so we know what you are doing.

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Well what I usually try to do is tell myself to make sure to not let the dream pass by, but to remember to RC in it or remember that I am dreaming (like in my mind I am telling myself “I MUST remember to do this”). At the same time, I try to visualize that moment happening (like seeing myself doing a RC). I try to keep this up…it is difficult though as my mind keeps wandering as sleep gets closer and it’s hard to take the intention seriously. It feels like a lot of mental effort as well...and if I do keep bringing my mind back to it I find I often can’t fall asleep at all.

What I find confusing about it is I’m not quite sure what I’m supposed to be looking out for or how what I’m doing is going to translate into lucidity. Like I keep thinking “is this intention strong enough?” “what am I supposed to be doing now? Should I be using a mantra?” etc. etc. the way it works to me just sounds a bit vague. I’m a real stickler for techniques…so I keep looking for something more concrete to “execute”.

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Originally Posted by ThreeCat

Also, I posted a review of Dreaming and Awakening, where Stephen LaBerge gave us some tips on MILD. They might be helpful to you.

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Oh that sounds cool

I rescind what I said a moment ago--slightly--I think it would be best to focus on something you can reasonably expect to happen in a dream, such as a dreamsign, and MILD on that. "Every time you see things" is a bit broad. However, I think intention and awareness in the dream end up being most important.

I see what you mean. MILD is an effortful practice. Like LaBerge has said, "I can try hard and succeed every night." Effort is fine. At some point, you need to let go and just fall asleep. Trust that you've done what you can. Too much and you'll never go to sleep. Too little and the intention won't be strong enough. You'll find a balance. Insomnia can often translate into an LD, btw, especially if you've been MILDing a lot.

And here is the link: http://www.dreamviews.com/lucid-expe...ml#post2160952

I've tried this before and it works the same as remembering to realize you're dreaming later.

You will find, in order to remember in a dream that you're out of bed or seeing things, you first have to aware during the dream that you're out of bed or seeing things. This is easier said than done, as self-awareness is required to make this possible, as it is with all lucid dreaming techniques.

With MILD, you get "ready and set" for lucid dreaming. But, you can only "go" with self-awareness.

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Originally Posted by dolphin

I've tried this before and it works the same as remembering to realize you're dreaming later.

You will find, in order to remember in a dream that you're out of bed or seeing things, you first have to aware during the dream that you're out of bed or seeing things. This is easier said than done, as self-awareness is required to make this possible, as it is with all lucid dreaming techniques.

With MILD, you get "ready and set" for lucid dreaming. But, you can only "go" with self-awareness.

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Hi Dolphin, what day work do you do to increase self awareness?
Ezzo

I don't do day work, at least not whenever I'm trying to fall asleep. I've been trying to figure out what I do or what I can do to increase self-awareness myself.

I do have many false awakenings. I guess I have a higher self-awareness during these dreams because the dreams mean more to me, especially when I'm in a good habit of doing RCs when I wake up. That accounts for maybe half of my LDs. All of the other DILDs, I'll also be reminded of dreaming somehow by naturally doing reality checks like trying to figure out how I got where I am.

From this, I guess what I do to increase self-awareness is find ways to make the dreams themselves mean more to me, which makes me more self-aware during them.

What I've been doing lately though, is simply watching the back of my eyelids until I'm lucid dreaming. This has been working well for me. The intention needed to do this blocks my thoughts and allows me to sleep while also constantly reminding me to pay attention to my dreams. I figure paying attention to the dreams makes more important to me which in turn makes me more aware of them. I'm not sure if staring at the back of my eyelids really increases my self-awareness though because only relatively small amount of DILDs and WILDs are due to realizing I can see with my eyes closed.

So, maybe the intention in MILD does increase self-awareness, but only if it causes the dreams to really mean something to you. The success of the general RCs like the sight one depends on whether your ability to see really means anything to you during the dream.

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Originally Posted by ThreeCat

I rescind what I said a moment ago--slightly--I think it would be best to focus on something you can reasonably expect to happen in a dream, such as a dreamsign, and MILD on that. "Every time you see things" is a bit broad. However, I think intention and awareness in the dream end up being most important.

I see what you mean. MILD is an effortful practice. Like LaBerge has said, "I can try hard and succeed every night." Effort is fine. At some point, you need to let go and just fall asleep. Trust that you've done what you can. Too much and you'll never go to sleep. Too little and the intention won't be strong enough. You'll find a balance. Insomnia can often translate into an LD, btw, especially if you've been MILDing a lot.

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Thanks for the advice, 3C. Yes I’ll try being a bit more specific with my MILD intention and put more focus onto that. Also about the falling asleep…I think you’re right, I have been successful a few times in the past by MILDing and then letting myself fall asleep normally. It’s probably good to make sure the intention is confidently “set” before doing so. I will try to find the balance.

Thx for the link. Very helpful!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dolphin

I've tried this before and it works the same as remembering to realize you're dreaming later.

You will find, in order to remember in a dream that you're out of bed or seeing things, you first have to aware during the dream that you're out of bed or seeing things. This is easier said than done, as self-awareness is required to make this possible, as it is with all lucid dreaming techniques.

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Dolphin

Good to know it would work the same. I assume then that it would be just as effective to tailor your MILD to any specific intention (based on your own preferences etc.). I always thought that if I didn’t follow the original MILD guide exactly then it wouldn’t work.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dolphin

With MILD, you get "ready and set" for lucid dreaming. But, you can only "go" with self-awareness.

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Nice way of looking at it