Thread: How did my reality check fail?

I thought in dreams your hands are deformed or missing a finger which will make you realize you are dreaming. I used this reality check a lot to check if i'm dreaming but this time, I looked at my hands and they were perfectly normal. My hands looked exactly how they do in real life so in my dream I said, "Oh this is reality." When I woke up, I knew it was a dream. Why did that reality check fail? Did I use it too many times?

Any reality check can fail.

The finger/hand check and the nose-pinch are suggested RCs that are designed to give people a start at reality checks. They are by no means a rule that works for everyone.

You may have to come up with your own RC. Paying attention to your dream signs can help.

For example, I seem to have a tendency to place a lot of blue objects in my dreams, no idea why. I can recognize this as a dream sign and sometimes the act of touching the object helps my lucidity. I seem to notice this color a lot in my waking surroundings so the touch-connection works for me.

Try developing your own reality check.

Originally Posted by melanieb

For example, I seem to have a tendency to place a lot of blue objects in my dreams, no idea why. I can recognize this as a dream sign and sometimes the act of touching the object helps my lucidity. I seem to notice this color a lot in my waking surroundings so the touch-connection works for me.

How exactly do you utilize the color blue IWL? I tend to see the color red often in my dreams. However, there are so many examples of red in my house that I felt like I would be doing reality check every 2 minutes. Just curious

Originally Posted by mdspencer68

How exactly do you utilize the color blue IWL? I tend to see the color red often in my dreams. However, there are so many examples of red in my house that I felt like I would be doing reality check every 2 minutes. Just curious

The color tends to really stand out in my dreams.

At home we have some plastic Solo cups, the kind often seen at picnics and parties. It's a vividly bright shade of blue.

When I see that in my dreams it's usually on machinery or other significant objects that don't need to be blue. I recognize this.

At home, when I see the cups or other similarly colored objects I can touch them and feel the connection. In my dream I can touch the object and feel the difference. The object doesn't feel right...the sensation is odd.

I recognize this difference and it helps me perceive the dream.


This is why I suggest finding your own RC. The standard ones do not work for everyone.

Originally Posted by melanieb

The color tends to really stand out in my dreams.

At home we have some plastic Solo cups, the kind often seen at picnics and parties. It's a vividly bright shade of blue.

When I see that in my dreams it's usually on machinery or other significant objects that don't need to be blue. I recognize this.

At home, when I see the cups or other similarly colored objects I can touch them and feel the connection. In my dream I can touch the object and feel the difference. The object doesn't feel right...the sensation is odd.

I recognize this difference and it helps me perceive the dream.


This is why I suggest finding your own RC. The standard ones do not work for everyone.

Okay. Thanks.

No reality check is fool proof, so along with doing what melanieb said, have a repertoire of at least 2 or 3 reality checks you use on a daily basis.

If you think a reality check will tell you you're in reality, it will tell you that. So every time you do your RC, even if you're 100% sure you're awake, fully expect the RC to fail (tell you you're dreaming).

Good luck ^^

You need to practice doing RCs throughout the day, and when you do them, actually think about what you are doing. Really question your reality, think ; 'Could I actually be dreaming right now? If I were, what would it look like?' I like to listen to conversations, and ask myself, 'Is this a normal thing to talk about, or could I be dreaming?' Then once you do this, look around, take note of what looks normal etc, and then do your RC. This will make them have more meaning in the dream.

Originally Posted by isthisit

I like to listen to conversations, and ask myself, 'Is this a normal thing to talk about, or could I be dreaming?'

That is amazing! I would have never thought of something like that; I might just incorporate that into my list of RCs. Thanks!

Originally Posted by OctoberWind

That is amazing! I would have never thought of something like that; I might just incorporate that into my list of RCs. Thanks!

Haha, glad I could help!

It works with a lot of things - I look outside, and ask if the sky looks normal, and the trees etc - I watch the tv and ask if it's a normal TV show, or if its something crazy that would only be in a dream.