Feel A Bit Caged

[Ender_]

I have had 8 LD's (all DILD's), and I have a claustrophobic feeling in them. I am usually in my house, and don't leave. I want to, but my attention span seems almost nonexistant while I am dreaming. I can never focus enough to get out of my house. There are so many cool things to be done, but the problem is getting there. For example, I have no trouble flying, but if I want to go skydiving, surfing, etc., it is hard to get to the right location. Plus, the LD ends when I try to hard to change the location. I just feel so enclosed by being in my house. This is only when I LD though, I am rarely in my house in regular dreams! Another problem is I seem to only be able to see in detail and focus on what is right in front of me, but my field of vision feels narrow, strengthing the sense of being in a enclosed. Did this happening to anyone else while they are beginners? I have been believing strongly that I would continue to improve, and I have. I have been able to fly, and can get very vivid visuals. My other senses need to improve though, and I need to change locations. I strongly believe that I will continue to improve, and that this belief is important in doing so. I would still like any tips from experienced LD'ers to: -Improve senses (I try to focus on using all of them more in real life, but usually when I am busy I don't focus on them too much) -Improve field of vision (sort of goes with above) -Change Scenes -I REALLY want to increase attention span (it's fine in real life, but terrible in LD's) -increase length of LD's -anything else that you think would be good to know

[Ender_]

Anything?

[Moonbeam]

Ender, I used to have the problem of getting stuck inside a room or building a lot, so I know what you are talking about. Like everything else concerning lucid dreaming, focus and practice are the answers. I practiced being able to go thru glass; at first it was impossible, then it got somewhat easier, now it is like nothing. I am still way behind people who can go thru walls or ceilings, however; last time I tried to fly thru one I just cracked it. Another thing that I practiced was going thru doors and imaging a "different" scene. I can't really pick the scene yet, I just imagine I am leaving the place I am and going "outside". That at least will get you out of the building, hopefully. I have rarely teleported, if I can see the location that I want to be--maybe you could try that. You just "project" yourself there and travel very quickly. Other people use spinning to change locations (so far unsuccessful for me), or teleporting. I am not that advanced; I had to start at rock-bottom with that so I know where you are coming from. Just keep trying, it will get better, I'm sure. Think of the different ways you would like to change location while you are awake, and then sometime when you are dreaming the opportunity will present itself.

[Amethyst Star]

One thing that may really help is for you to decide ahead of time what you want to do when you become lucid. Before you go to bed, make up your mind that you are going to "such and such" and when you become lucid, do it. Don't stand there and think about it, but do it. As far as maintaining an attention span, that's just going to come with practice. You can make a point to continually remind yourself that you are dreaming and reminding yourself of what you want to do. Other than that, it's practice. As far as most of those other things, use your imagination. Even if an idea seems far-fetched and irrational, it's a dream so there's a good possibility that it will work! It's surprising what we can convince ourselves to do, especially when we're asleep. For example, if you want to teleport somewhere, try looking at a door and knowing that where you want to be is on the other side of it. Walk through the door and into that location. You can also try "Jumping" if you've seen the movie or even the previews. Open up a rift in space and walk through or turn around and find yourself there. Just keep working at it and you'll figure things out. We're here if you have more questions, though. Also, try searching for threads that might help you out. There's a lot of information already on this site.