First Actual Lucid Experience

I just joined this site today, and I was wondering about a few things.

I remember this dream fairly well, that is I know what happened, but I don't remember any images involved except the feeling of being rushed and doors opening to reveal different scenes.

I remember realizing I was dreaming in this dream, which was my first actual lucid dream, I had several before but simply awoke after becoming excited about it. After several attempts of waking up I made the conscious decision to stay calm if I do in fact realize I was having a lucid dream. So back to my first lucid dream, I remember realizing this was a dream but I don't remember how it came about, as soon as I realized it was though I started getting slightly frantic and thought very quickly. Which is where the doors opening to new places came about. I am not sure what I did, but I figure at least I didn't simply wake up the moment I realized it, I was able to stay in it for a little while. So this is a success to me, I'm just curious how I was so frantic and didn't wake up.

So perhaps someone can explain to me what they think happened?

I would also appreciate any advice anyone could give me on making lucid dreams move vivid, and perhaps any other methods of making me remember dreams easier, aside from using a Dream Diary, which I already do.

That was what is called a Dream Initiated Lucid Dream (DILD). Basically a DILD is a dream where you realize in the dream that it is a dream.

There is a lot of disagreement on what causes a dreamer to wake up during a lucid dream. Some say excitement, or fear, or spinning, or closing their eyes, etc. I'm of the oppinion that if the dream is already stable -- has not just started or is about to end -- (as was probably the case since you became lucid in the middle of it) there is very little that will end it, even excitement and fear. I suspect that you focused more on hurrying than on the idea that the dream would end and this is what allowed it to last.

I think I agree, I was pretty happy that I was LDing and wanted to do so many things, I think I just need to keep myself focused and take time inside of my dream to close my eyes and tell myself to start small. xP

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Originally Posted by The Rhino

I think I agree, I was pretty happy that I was LDing and wanted to do so many things, I think I just need to keep myself focused and take time inside of my dream to close my eyes and tell myself to start small. xP

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Yeah, most people have short ones at first because they get too excited at the possibilities and wake up.

I dunno. I'd hesitate to say that excitement (or any other strong emotion for that matter) would often cause someone to wake up. I know it's a popular sentiment on this site, but if strong emotion were enough to reliably wake someone up, I don't think as many people would have nightmares as they do. After all, Stephen LaBerge himself makes several notes on how expectation causes things to happen. Of course, the only way we could prove excitement does not cause you to wake up is to have someone become lucid, get really excited and not wake up. Which seems to be the case here. ;)