Building courage to confront the dream?

[Lunary]

Okay well, My lucid dreams would usually be long and in them I would always get chased by some Dream characters I can't see but can hear or some visible dream character with a weapon that wants to hurt me, or just my dream body hurting itself somehow by getting paralised. Last lucid dream was a pony with a knife attacking me. So I'm wondering, how would I build my Confidence/Strenght/Courage before I attempt to lucid, so that when I get lucid I would not run away all the time(I am never fully lucid to have control over myself but I do things that I would do IRL and there is never time to do anything before I get attacked). Like either just take the hit of the DC and ask him why? Or maybe take out some weapon out of nowhere and hold it back(I don't intend to kill Dream characters) so I can ask it why it's attacking me? Basically I want to find out why my dream's are focused on attacking me but I can't because I always get scared for my life and run (Even thoo I know it's a dream, it's just too scary). So what could I do in waking life to make myself fight back in dreams? If I can do anything?

[Mystycal]

If it was me, I'd stop running. Even though you make think it's scary, just pause and turn around, and see what you can do. If you're lucid, then you should be able to discern between dream and reality and know that nothing can hurt you in your dreams. In the scenario you're describing, I'd just stop, turn around to face the DC, then just straight up punch him in the face. Who is he to think that he can mess with you in the dreamworld? It is YOUR kingdom. YOUR domain. So anyway, I'd just punch him, take away his weapon and demand to know why he was attacking. If he persisted in attacking me, I would simply imagine his disappearance, or I'd just kill him. Cleanly, so as not to turn on unpleasant imagery in the mind, say for example, punch him through a wall. Basically, right now you're like but you just have to be , if you know what I mean. Repeating as a mantra, "I will not be scared in my dream" or something like that before you go to sleep can result in very beneficial changes also, in my experience. Good luck in overcoming this obstacle!

[Sageous]

Mystycal is right, Lunary. Though I personally wouldn't do much punching, the only way to really fix this problem is to face it, and not run away from it. Running only reduces lucidity (and eliminates the chance of elevating it) and does not resolve anything. As Mystycal said, try facing your aggressive dream characters, and asserting your power over them. They are, after all your own creation, no matter how scary. Ride the pony, maybe use its knife to cut some cheese. Hell, just give it a hug. You could also simply close your eyes and remind yourself calmly that this is all a dream. When you open your eyes, the character will likely be gone, or have taken on a less intimidating form. You get what we mean, I think. What you'll also get if you do these things is stronger lucidity, which is always a good thing.

[Matte87]

A dream interpreter would probably say you're having these dreams because you might be afraid of something, change or something you want to get away from and you know might catch up to you. The advice I can give you is just to look at it all as a game or a movie. It's not real, you CAN'T take any real harm from whatever you dream. Amazing scenarios and experiences that goes on in your head, how cool isn't that? For the control part, you're the god in your dreams. Do whatever you like Most nightmares can be overcome by you facing whatever's chasing you. I suggest talking to him/her/it. Good luck!

[TheForgotten]

HAHAHA, love this. So true: Basically, right now you're like but you just have to be , 1. There is nothing to fear. Worst case scenerio, you die. Then you wake up. 2. During the day you can incubate the nightmare. See yourself being attacked and then consciously write the ending. Do this multiple times with different endings. This desensitizes you to the fear to some extent but it also shows you options. This may feel insignificant while doing it but your dreaming body remembers and expands on things you've thought of while awake. 3. Just for the hell of it, give yourself super powers. It'll actually become useful dreaming tools, makes DJ entries interesting, and offers confidence. I mean, who wouldn't want to be a badass... with super powers... I picked mine in waking life and just daydreamed about it. At some point it worked its way into my dreaming. Options. You have them. Use them. Whatever you want them to be, whether it's asking the attacker what it wants, blasting it into dust, or eating it for lunch. Anything is possible, choose the option that makes the most sense or is the most fun for you.

[StaySharp]

You've already noticed yourself that confronting the problem is the right step, so I'm not gonna go with the mass and repeat that once again. As for your question how to build up the courage, try different options. Repeat a mantra before sleeping telling you to face problems. Think back to a few situations in dreams where you ran away and imagine how it could've turned out if you stopped running and faced the problem. Think that running away and never hearing the answer might be scarier than just turning around and facing it. You have many options and I'd recommend to try them all at once. Somewhere you have the courage, you just need to find and resurrect it.

[Theepicdreamer]

slap whatever is chasing you, make it fly into the sky and blast off like team rocket XD