I Still Haven't Cracked Lding! Help!

[Super Duck]

Hi guys. I've been a member since...uh...June? I dunno, it'll say on the left. Anyways, I've tried a lot of methods and I still haven't cracked it ("it" obviously being LDing). One of my main reasons for struggling is my lack of confidence but my biggest barrier is that I cannot think about a specific thing as I fall asleep (i.e: I have to let my mind wander). I have had LDs before I found the site but only randomly and I have had two LDs whilst being a member, (one being 10 seconds long and another where the lucidity faded shortly after I realised it was a dream). I really want to believe I can do it...because if I believe, it will probably work, but with all of these failing methods, it's hard to have faith. All I need is confidence and the WBTB method (which I somehow feel will work for me). If you are a WBTBer, what is your favouritwe way of going about it? Thanks in advance, Super Duck

[Burns]

Well, I'd say you have cracked it, seeing as you've had 2 LDs since becoming a member! Maybe you're setting your expectations too high, thinking you're going to have them frequently. Even though the LDs you had were short-lived, that doesn't mean you've never experienced one - and that's further along than a lot of members. The WBTB tutorial says to sleep for 5-6 hours, then stay up for 60-90 mins, then go back to bed. A lot of people have success with this, but it just doesn't do it for me. I use a tweaked version of the WBTB method on the days I get to sleep in, by sleeping for 7-8 hours, then waking up for a couple minutes, maybe to go to the bathroom or whatever, then go straight back to bed. I'll usually try to visualize myself realizing I'm dreaming or think about what I want to dream about. I usually fall back into dreaming so quickly that the affirmations are still there. I have more LDs this way then by using any other technique (not counting the times I just spontaneously become lucid). So there are no cut and dried ways to do the techniques - you'll have to play around with it and develop a new way that works for you. Don't get discouraged if you don't have success right away. Trying too hard can be counterproductive for a lot of people. Keep on keepin' on, Duck. You'll get there.

[NeAvO]

Just have confidence in your self and be patient, Its worth it in the long run Besides you have had a LD, even if it was short and thats some thing

[Ev]

Try the dream reentry technique. It's in the tutorial section. I've done it today and it still works 3 Lds for me. If you succeed at using it you will greatly increase your confidence as you would actually get in a LD at will.

[Super Duck]

Thanks guys. Guess what? I had an LD last night. Once again, it was 3 seconds long because I tried too hard to stay conciouss. I immediatly started spinning and yelled "Increase lucidity now!" but I only heard it in my head. Anyway, I was probably just feeling depressed yesterday because I want to be able to control the environment and fly, etc. Thanks again, Ducky

[Legolover64]

Don't we all? I've had two somewhat short LDs, both with FILD attempted, although I don't remember specifics. I'd have to look at my journal Anyways, what I found is that both times, I wasn't really expecting it or anything. Before the first one, I probably tried for a week or so, but hey, it happened! Just stick to it, it'll come!

[.jared.]

im thinking...maybe trying to hard once becoming lucid can cause a loss in lucidity. A few nights ago i had a lucid where i just ran off and tried to have fun rather than trying to increase lucidity. It was my longest yet.

[ilovefrootloopz]

Don't feel bad. My mind needs to wander to fall asleep as well. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass. Basically no MILD's, VILD's, and maybe WILD's (although it could be possible because you conciously get into a dream). So all you have left is the DILD's, either normally or with WBTB. But look at my lucid count. Ok... so maybe half of them sucked and were unstable... and maybe 25% lacked any control, and the rest had almost no control..... In fact... the most control I had was last night where I managed to create a ferrari... But it proves that people who have the "mind wander disability" like you or me do not need it to be a barrier. I'm no natural LDer. I just deliberatly try every night to have an LD, follow a special sleep schedule, write in my dream journal, and constantly think about LDing during the day (I don't really do reality checks). PS. I also have a low confidence.

[badassbob]

I'd definately reccommend you try the WILD method, it usually works for me. And megabenman, nice avatar!!

[dreammask]

One of my main reasons for struggling is my lack of confidence but my biggest barrier is that I cannot think about a specific thing as I fall asleep[/b] I think your problem with focusing while falling asleep is a pretty common one, especially as you get closer to actually falling asleep. If I focus on something too much as I try to fall asleep, I tend to have a hard time falling asleep at all... quite annoying. One thing I've noticed myself doing, which actually ended up helping a lot and is similar to focusing as I fall asleep... I created a sort of "happy place," a meadow with huge pine trees around it and a large rock in the middle. It's also a place I go to when I completely awake and just want to relax. Sort of meditation-style, but I allow myself the ability to imagine different things in that place. I'm not specifically focusing on having a lucid dream, I'm focusing on being in a place where I can change the weather, the time of day, etc, with my imagination. Try it during the day too, not just when you're going to sleep. The better your imaginative space is solid in your mind, the better your brain will get at creatively manipulating a dream or meditative environment. I really want to believe I can do it...because if I believe, it will probably work, but with all of these failing methods, it's hard to have faith.[/b] What are you talking about? You CAN do it! You HAVE done it! Your lack of confidence is completely unfounded. You act like you haven't ever done it before, but you obviously have, and you've done it since you started this thread! So stop thinking you can't do it! You're obviously lying to yourself by saying that. It's not about "failed methods." It's about celebrating the times it has worked, even if for a second or two. That's a success, remember, not a failure. You should be celebrating your successes! You've had a lot of them! Accept every little success as just that and you'll gain confidence. Forget nagging yourself over the length and intensity or whatever you're not perfect at. Especially don't worry about it when you're in the dream! I personally think that the best thing you can do when you get an inkling of lucidity is to keep yourself calm and happy. Good luck with your future dreams!

[phoenelai]

What are you talking about? You CAN do it! You HAVE done it! Your lack of confidence is completely unfounded. You act like you haven't ever done it before, but you obviously have, and you've done it since you started this thread! So stop thinking you can't do it! You're obviously lying to yourself by saying that. It's not about "failed methods." It's about celebrating the times it has worked, even if for a second or two. That's a success, remember, not a failure. You should be celebrating your successes! You've had a lot of them! Accept every little success as just that and you'll gain confidence. Forget nagging yourself over the length and intensity or whatever you're not perfect at. Especially don't worry about it when you're in the dream! I personally think that the best thing you can do when you get an inkling of lucidity is to keep yourself calm and happy. Good luck with your future dreams! [/b] Agreed. I worked on many reseach projects (like my recent) entering a lucid from ganzfeld. I had nights and nights of no results. Then a month later it happened. I never told myself it couldnt be done, I just kept trying over and over and documenting my testing then it happened. It will, happen, it has too.

[Fairysoul]

OK SO I HAVE TO LET MY MIND WONDER TOO, BUT THE KEY IS TO NOT BE FOCUSED ON DREAMING OF ANYKIND. WBTB NEVER WORKS FOR ME, UNLESS MY BODY TWITCHING AS IT RELAXES WAKES ME, IT WORKS THEN. JUST FOCUS ON YOU HOW YOU FEEL HOW EACH PART OF YOU FEELS. AS YOU FALL ASLEEP, LIVING IN THE MOMENT WILL ENHANCE SLEEPING AND YOUR LUCIDITY. B/C WHEN YOU LUCID DREAM YOU ARE IN THE MOMENT MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME ENLESS YOU FOCUS ON LIVING IN THE MOMENT NORMALLY, THEN YOUR JUST IN THE MOMENT.

[DreamDudeDave]

OK SO I HAVE TO LET MY MIND WONDER TOO, BUT THE KEY IS TO NOT BE FOCUSED ON DREAMING OF ANYKIND. WBTB NEVER WORKS FOR ME, UNLESS MY BODY TWITCHING AS IT RELAXES WAKES ME, IT WORKS THEN. JUST FOCUS ON YOU HOW YOU FEEL HOW EACH PART OF YOU FEELS. AS YOU FALL ASLEEP, LIVING IN THE MOMENT WILL ENHANCE SLEEPING AND YOUR LUCIDITY. B/C WHEN YOU LUCID DREAM YOU ARE IN THE MOMENT MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME ENLESS YOU FOCUS ON LIVING IN THE MOMENT NORMALLY, THEN YOUR JUST IN THE MOMENT. [/b] YEP! Lucidity comes through cultivating awareness

[ilovefrootloopz]

OK SO I HAVE TO LET MY MIND WONDER TOO, BUT THE KEY IS TO NOT BE FOCUSED ON DREAMING OF ANYKIND. WBTB NEVER WORKS FOR ME, UNLESS MY BODY TWITCHING AS IT RELAXES WAKES ME, IT WORKS THEN. JUST FOCUS ON YOU HOW YOU FEEL HOW EACH PART OF YOU FEELS. AS YOU FALL ASLEEP, LIVING IN THE MOMENT WILL ENHANCE SLEEPING AND YOUR LUCIDITY. B/C WHEN YOU LUCID DREAM YOU ARE IN THE MOMENT MORE THAN ANY OTHER TIME ENLESS YOU FOCUS ON LIVING IN THE MOMENT NORMALLY, THEN YOUR JUST IN THE MOMENT. [/b] That's not the key, the key is cap locks. Sorry but I just had to say that.

[Fairysoul]

YEP! Lucidity comes through cultivating awareness [/b] I AM GLAD WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE!!!!!!!!!

[tiddlywink101]

You are doing well to have had 2 LDs but you are probably trying too hard and expecting too much. If you are trying realy hard without results just forget about lucid dreams for a week or two and you'l soon be back on track.

[Super Duck]

Wow! So much feedback! I've been away for about two weeks and you have given me so much help. I am now going about my life saying to myself sternly outloud, "I WILL have a lucid dream tonight!" I still haven't had any more LDs but I don't give a crap about when it doesn't work, anymore. The only time I do give a crap is when I have an LD. That's when I celebrate! I did have a very vivid dream that involved the first thing I wanted to do in an LD. I was at this high-class party and the party was for this HOT British TV Star. Anyways, a-long-story-short, I ended up in the boot of a car with her (the boot being the trunk in the USA. Lol&#33. I'll stop there before I get into too much detail. Thanks to all of you for your advice! Super Fauntleroy Duck