Wish I had known that/Just so you know thread

Hi everyone,

I am a new member to this forum, but have done lucid dreaming a while. So, I decided to compile a User-Created list for the whole community, a kind of "Just so you know" or "What I wish I had known" thread about lucid dreaming. Here is my basic first list:

"WILD takes a loooong time to get into the first stage
"Never look in mirrors, your mind distorts the image, and you could scare yourself into a nightmare
"www.dreamviews.com is a great resource
"It takes practice, you don't go in the first time "fully" controlling the dream
"False awakenings CAN destroy your lucidness
"Dark places should generally be avoided if that is your fear
"Make an attempt to avoid things you fear, they will scare you into a nightmare
Above two scratched out because of Abra's advice in the below post
"When you are scared into a nightmare, you sometimes lose lucidity

Feel free to add onto this small list, to help first timers and "Dream Vets" together. The next ones are a review so you don't have to look through a huge thread when this gets bigger.

Abra says:
"ALWAYS reality check when you wake up."
"Find subtle checks to use in public."
"You don't need to be still to WILD."
"Running (from nightmares) isn't always the best option
"There's more room for personal growth if you confront your nightmares. Once you face them, and deal with them, the fear will evaporate. Some people use lucid dreams to confront their nightmares. In my experience, those that constantly run away often find that the nightmare is a reoccurring theme instead of a one night stand.

Seraphic8X says:
-Relaxation is key
-Whatever happens, let it happen. You cannot be harmed by anything in your dreams, or anything happening during sleep paralysis. Just try and maintain your composure.
-Try not the focus too much on the end result: Lucidity. It seems the more you want it the less you believe you'll have it. Focus more on the steps involved, while believing that it will lead you to lucidity.


-NASCAR

I don't really like your ideas about nightmares. Running away isn't always the best option. Jung says there's more room for personal growth if you confront your nightmares. Once you face them, and deal with them, the fear will evaporate. Some people use lucid dreams to confront their nightmares. In my experience, those that constantly run away often find that the nightmare is a reoccurring theme instead of a one night stand. Anyway:

"ALWAYS reality check when you wake up."
"Find subtle checks to use in public."
"You don't need to be still to WILD."

Huh, thanks Abra, Ill try that if I can remember next time I have a LD. Maybe I can actually sit down and watch a horror movie without fear of the night after this.


NASCAR

I got a couple from personal experience.

-Relaxation is key
-Whatever happens, let it happen. You cannot be harmed by anything in your dreams, or anything happening during sleep paralysis. Just try and maintain your composure.
-Try not the focus too much on the end result: Lucidity. It seems the more you want it the less you believe you'll have it. Focus more on the steps involved, while believing that it will lead you to lucidity.