First Lucid Experience: Inception?

Quote:

Originally Posted by celladora

Hi! I'm new here. I just joined this morning, having had my very first lucid dream last night after months of dream "training". I have been learning about lucid dreaming, doing reality checks, writing down my dreams religiously, etc. and last night it finally paid off. However, when I awoke from the lucid dream, it was a false awakening and I was still dreaming only this time I forgot I was lucid.

When I first realized I was lucid in the dream (within-a-dream?), the shock of it nearly woke me up, so I kept spinning around until I felt grounded (I've heard that helps to keep you from waking up). Then I flew over a lake and I tried to pick things up using telekinesis (didn't work, unfortunately). Anyway, then I "woke up", but I was still dreaming. So I can't figure out whether I really had a lucid dream or not? Or whether I just dreamed I was lucid? Also, how can I have better luck next time? Thanks :)

awareness is a modal state. you either are or you're not. if you knew you were dreaming (you said you did) then you are lucid. that is the sole definition of lucid dreaming.
you're doing everything correctly, from what you've said so far. just keep dream journalling and being excited.