How to increase self-control and awareness in my dreams?

**EDX442** · 01-07-2016 12:36 PM

Hi all.

I'm very new to lucid dreaming and was wondering if I could have a little help with it...

I had a few lucid dreams a while back (all of which were very very brief) and then nothing until just recently when I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom. Upon going back to sleep (and without any intention of becoming lucid) I had a lucid dream. This time it may have lasted a few minutes, I'm not really sure. It wasn't very clear.

Then just the other night, I did the same thing (waking up in the middle of the night) and I had lucid dreams on my mind this time. This time, after falling asleep, I felt a floating sensation - like I was floating out of bed! The next thing I knew, I was at my window. I remember opening it and jumping outside. I then remember flying around for a bit until I somehow ended up in a shopping centre... after that the dream faded and I lost consciousness.

Well... sorry to make you read all that. Basically, the issue I've been having with these dreams is that it doesn't quite feel like I have proper self-control (like I would in real life). Maybe I'm just overly excited and can't help doing these things, but it seems like I lack the control and the patience I wish to have if I'm to make anything out of this opportunity.

Is there some way that I could increase my awareness of myself within the dream as well as awareness of the dream itself? Would increasing the clarity of the dream result in me having better control and actually feel more like 'myself' (closer to how I feel in reality)?

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

**RelaxAndDream** · 01-07-2016 01:26 PM

what you describe is a low level of awareness lucid. you know you are dreaming but cant detach yourself from dreamplot or just do random stuff without remembering for example goals.

the fastest way to deal with this is to set your intention that the next time you get lucid you stop! what you are doing and slow down. nothing in the dream is important you dont need to keep on searching for a toilet you dont need to finish the discussion you might have with a DC etc. just stop take some deeeep breaths (it helped me to do some deep breath thru my pinched nose --> RC and grounding in the dream) and focus your thoughts. tell yourself that this is your dream and you can do whatever you like. after some seconds your "waking"self will be more involved in your dream and you will think more clearly. remember to tell you every now and then that this is your dream to keep up your awareness and not lose it gradually or unexpected and continue your dreamplot because something was to interesting.

the longer way is to increase your awareness during your waking life too. i could write a wall of text how to but i will just start with mindfulness meditation. How to Meditate | Aloha Dharma

meditation is very benefitial to lucid dreaming (and for waking life itself in many many ways but that was not your question xD)

**Hitokage** · 01-08-2016 09:01 PM

From my experience I can say: Practice again and again!
There is no other way. The most efficient one is to keep trying. Try to find your own techniques that fits you well. It will get better and better with every dream.

**EDX442** · 01-09-2016 01:03 AM

Thanks for all the answers, guys! I will definitely keep trying

**Ginsan** · 01-13-2016 01:04 PM

Awareness/mindfulness meditation works for me. Also, reality checking works really well. Ask yourself questions like "who am i? am i really dreaming?" look around in the dream and touch things, examine things. Casually going along with the flow makes your awareness slowly fade so occasionally you have to do things like this. I hope you get lucid again so you can try it out!