My Brother

Hey, funny thing. When I learned about LDing 4 months ago, I told my brother the same day, and he was interested, but barely started doing anything. Maybe just RCs. After 2 months, I had a LD, and a week later, the second. From then till now, he has been shocking me! He has had 10 LDs after I had those 2LD. 10 LDs in less than 2 months, and they come in pairs. He dreams a LD, wakes up, sleeps again, dreams of the same place, then know he is dreaming(DILD). He still barely does anything(RC and mantra before bed). What angers me is that I do MILD, DEILD, WILD and train my self-awareness and prospective memory, and I only have 5 LDs! I have been studying every aspect of LDing in these past 4 months, each and every day, hell I can become a guide, but he barely knows anything. I told him that when I get a full hang of all of this(I do now(since yesterday)), I will show him who's the real LDer, and he comes back with even more LDs! Am I slow? or is he fast(don't forget that he barely practices)?

You see, there's a funny little thing about LDing. You can know every single thing about lucid dreaming, yet not have very many of your own. Sometimes, Knowing everything about it can be a slight downfall in some aspects. Why? Well, You know how to Lucid Dream, you know that you are able to, etc, etc. However, If one knows all this and still has not experienced one, then that little voice in the back of their head might start saying "You're incapable, You just can't do it" Thus, proving to be a major set back/downfall. This discourages one. You KNOW you are able to do it, but you also begin to learn all the ways you AREN'T able to do it, thus setting up a little wall. (could be even harder to understand, its late, i'm tired blah blah, carry on) Let me put it this way; A man is not concerned about his health, but lives a healthy life anyway, ignorant to the fact he is able to be unhealthy. Another man is just like the last man, and is healthy, but becomes aware that he can become very unhealthy if he doesn't watch out for unhealthy things. He becomes paranoid, And soon becomes unhealthy, due to watching out too much for unhealthy things. This was his downfall, If he did not have the knowledge of the unhealthy things that he wasn't even going to come in to contact with regardless, he would have lived a blissfully ignorant, healthy life! So, That being said, don't let that knowledge be your barrier, instead, allow yourself to be the one creating the remedies for everyone else, and yourself.

Metaphorically, Your brother could just be the unaware, healthy man, who's lucky and better off not knowing anything about how he could be endangering his health. But, you have that over him, you know the dangers, you just have to let yourself be aware of them, not paranoid, and allow yourself to know that when you let yourself to be slightly ignorant, in order to become less paranoid, you're not endangering yourself, you're bettering your health.

Sorry that I went off into a different little semi-complicated metaphorical world there, haha. But, I hope this helps you a bit.. Good Luck with LDing!

some people are just more adapt at LD's than others, its not because you're slow, everyone has there own pace, for example I never had to train to LD, I just stumbled across it one night while dreaming and have been LDing ever since, nor do I have to use DR or any techs, it just sort of, clicks and I'm LDing, everyones different

Sometimes, trying too hard has a negative impact on things. Maybe you should try being more laid back about it like your brother. That's what worked for me, you see i was trying way too hard to have an LD and the moment i stopped and began being more neutral about it i had one the very first night.

LouaiB, I sense that you and I are alike in many ways. I also am an "obsess and learn everything there is to know about something" kind of personality. Anything I study I try to become an expert at. This works really well for waking life disciplines, things like sports, science, math, computers, chess, etc. But dreaming is different! Attitude is the key. And physiology. We know without a doubt that belief and confidence result in effective dream control.

So in addition to the knowledge, there is the attitude. Some people need to work harder than others. Frustration just leads to performance anxiety and a vicious cycle of worsening results which leads to more anxiety, around and around. I'm subject to the same sorts of lows with setbacks. Keeping a positive attitude is key. Don't compare yourself to others!

Thanks for the great replies. I will start being passive with some intention, and stop comparing myself to my brother. But, gosh, I sometimes want to punch him right at his face! He always rubs his LDing success on my face. WTF! Where's the gratitude!? After all, I showed him LDing!

Be happy and excited for your brother. Tell yourself that you are doing the same thing, because you are a lucid dreamer too. Don't wish for it, and especially don't wish for it too hard, like to the point of you getting angry or disappointed if it doesn't work. Every time you attempt a LD, you learn a valuable lesson. Enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

Replace wish with intent and knowing, that you gonna have a LD. We know you will :alien:

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Originally Posted by LouaiB

Thanks for the great replies. I will start being passive with some intention, and stop comparing myself to my brother. But, gosh, I sometimes want to punch him right at his face! He always rubs his LDing success on my face. WTF! Where's the gratitude!? After all, I showed him LDing!

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I think "positive" is a better term than "passive." I believe I know what you mean, perhaps a term I'd prefer though is "positively enthusiastic."

yes, having intention but not hoping too much. Being excited and patient at the same time. I know what you mean, Fryingman. Being excited and patient is indeed very important. Also, I am really like that(need to know everything about something or something willl feel wrong about it, like I can't trust it unless I fully understand it. That is a good thing, unless you we stumble on something that needs us to try it first to understand it, then god help us if that happenes lol