Thread: Collecting Reality Check Prompts

Originally Posted by FryingMan

Great thread. I always run out of ideas for targets.

I didn't see any about emotion or state of mind. I find these are very helpful. In particular,

state of mind:

• feeling agitated, upset, annoyed
• worrying
• ruminating
• planning/problem-solving

I try to choose some targets that I know I'll hit, and some that I may not. I also try to spread them out so that some will be soon, some mid-day, and some in the evening.

I try to choose targets where my attention is usually focused on the action and I'm typically not mindful. Busy / bustling experiences, like: boarding a crowded bus or train (that first step off the pavement onto the vehicle.

Putting the key into the lock when you come home

I also would keep 4 active targets: when I realize one was hit/missed, I'd replace it with a new one (although I tend to not eliminate misses, I leave them around for another chance).

p.s. for me, ala TYoDaS, the goal is to make *all* experience the occasion for increased presence and lucidity. But these are a great way to start.

Thank you for your contribution. That is excellent material to add. My focus has been solely on sensory awareness, because I tend to struggle more with the external world and noticing my surroundings. I think adding in emotions and thinking states can be helpful to make the list more well-rounded.

I like your idea of immediately rotating out ones you've hit, and keeping the ones you've missed. Sometimes, if I'm missing a couple targets, I will repeat the day over again in the hopes of getting them next time. It's so important to address our weak areas of awareness.

I like to pick both action-based prompts and passive prompts, because sometimes lucidity can occur when we notice something passively. Paying more attention to our surroundings, and connecting these experiences to reality checking, is the goal. Active actions are just as important, though. I like to have both.

I hear you with TYoDaS and ADA. It's just that all day awareness hasn't given me the same results by itself, and tends to be very taxing and uninspiring for me. It's also difficult to maintain with a full time job that requires my complete attention. I think it's great to practice, but I've found that even with focus, there's not enough differentiation between waking and dreaming experiences to build that critical reflective attitude for me.

It can lead to an understanding that all is a dream, and that understanding can bleed over into dreams, but what I notice is that I will have dreams where I know I'm dreaming, but not really lucid. No "aha" moment happens. There's no differentiation happening. At the end of the day, I have less DILD successes if I am not practicing reality checking methods. ADA may be better for increasing WILDs, though, as mastery of overall awareness seems to be key there.

I think combining that type of mindset with targeted skill building (prospective memory & CRA) through reality checking, leads to the most lucidity for me. But, everyone is different. For some people, this may do little, perhaps they have an excellent prospective memory already. Perhaps all day awareness is more helpful for them. I can only go off of what has worked more, and has worked less, for me.

As an aside, I struggle GREATLY with prospective memory. I also struggle with connecting my memory to what's going on around me. I remember the tasks mentally, but struggle to notice them in my environment. It's a HUGE weak area for me, and I think that's why I get so much from the practice.

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Edit:

I added in a new set of background images called "Newbie List" - for those who are brand new to prospective memory training / reality checking. This list only has 2 prompts per day, and they both should be very common ones.