Thread: Reality checks help!

What I see some people around here saying is
1) sometimes you need to REALLY push the finger through for this RC to work
2) it's always wise to add a second RC to your practice in order to diminish the chance of false responses like this one
3) not all people are the same, therefore not all RCs will work for everybody

I am still beginning, but I hope I could help

Originally Posted by Sktannagade

I tried to stick my finger through my hand. But my finger didn't go through my hand, so i figured i was awake and kept on dreaming. How can i avoid this?

When you practicing RCs in waking life, you really have to believe, that it will work (thumb go through palm, able to breathe with pinched nose...), because you are at that moment in a dream.

Also adding awareness training helps you realize you dreaming.
self-awareness
ADA
awarness question+RC

With RC's in which you attempt impossible experiences, it might be hard to imagine what it will really feel like. Your mind hesitates to invent a feeling you've never experienced. So don't just imagine what it would look like to put your finger through your hand. Imagine what it would feel like. I think it would feel like Jello.

It probably depends on the person but I think the nose pinch is the most reliable RC. I think it's because in waking life you can experience both outcomes. You know what it feels like to breathe through your nose and you know what it feels like to have your nose plugged. You don't have to imagine what it would feel like. You can feel the difference and you can be logical about it. It's more about activating awareness and logic than testing reality.

I also like counting fingers. Again, because it doesn't require imagination and it activates the logical part of your brain.

Originally Posted by Sktannagade

Yesterday I caught myself dreaming, so i tried a couple of reality checks to see if i was really dreaming. I tried to stick my finger through my hand. But my finger didn't go through my hand, so i figured i was awake and kept on dreaming. How can i avoid this?
Thanks in advance

I, much like yourself, have not had very much luck with the finger-through-palm RC technique, I'd suggest trying to find a different RC to use, and always have a backup RC ready incase your first one fails.
My favorite RC as of now is the nose plug rc, it has yet to fail me where my palm RC did.