The biggest obstacle to lucid dreaming is the wandering mind. Whatever technique we use, MILD, WILD, VILD, HILD, FILD, the essence of the technique is consciously staying focused on a particular thought or visualization as we fall sleep. What usually happens is that the mind wanders off into fantasy or thinking about problems. WE LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS of what we are supposed to be doing, the technique, and get sidetracked into unconscious thinking, which leads to unconscious dreaming.

Frankly, I don't know what the solution is except to be aware of the problem and resolutely resist the temptation to think about irrelevant things as we fall asleep. Any suggestions?