Failed nose plug reality check

[13WAR08T]

Hi, I had a dream recently where I tried breathing through my nose while pinching it. It worked, in the sense that I was able to breathe perfectly, but in the dream there was something wrong with my fingers - they had limited mobility and were kind of stuck in a fist. So when I did the reality check, I thought, 'Since I can't move my fingers very much maybe I can't cover my nostrils all the way." In real life I use the palm push RC and combine it with the nose plug reality check, and tell myself that if I can breathe I'm dreaming. Before I start, I ask myself if I'm dreaming and consider that possibility, look around my surroundings for anything out of the ordinary and engage my other senses, becoming aware of my body and what everything feels like, before I perform the physical action. Is there anything more I can do to get the RC to work in future dreams, or was this just bad luck? Admins/moderators, this should probably be in general lucid discussion so please feel free to move it.

[ThePerson]

I don't really know how to fix this, but I have totally had experiences like that before. I used to do the finger counting reality check all the time, and once it failed because I just couldn't see my hands, I looked at them but I just couldn't see them. Another time, I counted my fingers and I had 11, but then a dream character (that told me to count them) said that I wasn't actually supposed to *count*, just assume that there were 10.

[slash112]

The main thing is that you question reality. Whatever RC you do, whatever the outcome of the RC, if you really question reality, you'll realize it's a dream. It sounds like you are already doing well with the questioning reality bit anyways. All I can say is, put more emphasis on the mindfulness of it when you do your RCs.

[NeoHenry]

I don't really know how to fix this, but I have totally had experiences like that before. I used to do the finger counting reality check all the time, and once it failed because I just couldn't see my hands, I looked at them but I just couldn't see them. Another time, I counted my fingers and I had 11, but then a dream character (that told me to count them) said that I wasn't actually supposed to *count*, just assume that there were 10. To expand on this, always have back up reality checks. When one reality check fail, continue to doubt that you're awake and try out other reality checks. My primary reality check is the palm push one, though I always practice other reality checks. Example: I did my palm push reality check in a dream, and it failed. I knew I was in a dream (somehow) and I used other reality checks. Funny enough, I improvised a reality check by checking my hand, and there was a hole that you can see through but it was closing up in my hand to seal off as if I was healing the hole. After seeing this improvised reality check, I became lucid.