A memory... a theory :)

**SleepyCookieDough** · 01-09-2009 01:30 PM

I had this dream last night (or more like this morning) and in that dream, I was in a hotel (I think) and the man in the room I was with (probably the father of the family) told me not to leave but I did anyways. I walked in the halls looking for the atrium. I got to an intersection and that's when it happenned. (No I didn't become lucid) but everything was so vivid. I could see every detail of everything because I was looking at it trying to see which way would be the best to go to the atrium and then I found the way. Once in the atrium it happened again. I was looking at the people. They were university students (probably waiting for the bus)

Anyways, my point is that in real life, we take our five senses for granted. We don't really use them and enjoy them as we should. We live our day not really caring about our environment (if you get what I mean). When we dream it is the same thing. We take everything for granted. In my dream, it became vivid because I looked. And then when we get a LD, we are amaze to have our five senses because we didn't know it felt like this in dreams and then we use them more than in RL (real life)

So my theory is that every dream is equaly vivid, its just that we live them as real life, without giving them so much attention. However in LDs we tend to use our senses more since its such a different experience.

That's my theory! What dya think of it?

**Darz** · 01-09-2009 02:57 PM

so u're saying that if use all our senses more often in real life we'll do the same in a dream and achieve a lucid dream? dunno if that's what u mean but if it is, won't it make our dreams look real as they do now, thus leading to the same situation where u still think a dream is reality?

**John11** · 01-09-2009 04:40 PM

I agree that if you pay attention to your other senses in real life more then they will be more apparent in your dreams. Many people have said the same thing. However, I don't think you'd get a lucid dream out of it. Just because you end up paying more attention subconsciously to some sense doesn't mean you will be able to tell it's a dream. You will still accept it as real life.

**ThreeLetterSyndrom** · 01-09-2009 04:46 PM

Well, you're theory is somewhat similar to mine.
Actually those theories comply eachother.

My theory was that all dreams are equally vivid, but since you don't always pay attention to it, you don't remember them as such.
What you're saying is (I think) that you pay attention to the surroundings (by using your senses). That would imprint the sensation in your memory.

**SleepyCookieDough** · 01-09-2009 09:26 PM

Originally Posted by ThreeLetterSyndrom

Well, you're theory is somewhat similar to mine.
Actually those theories comply eachother.

My theory was that all dreams are equally vivid, but since you don't always pay attention to it, you don't remember them as such.
What you're saying is (I think) that you pay attention to the surroundings (by using your senses). That would imprint the sensation in your memory.

No, my theory is the same as yours. I forgot to add the conclusion, I had to go to school! lol!

I'm saying that normal dreams don't feel as vivid because we think its reality so we don't use our senses so much. Today, I've tried making myself think that I was dreaming (I wasn't really) and everything felt somehow better, like if I actually was in a LD.

**Robot_Butler** · 01-09-2009 11:06 PM

I just asked TwoShadows something similar earlier today. Read her latest lucid:
http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...865#post991865

TheCusp had a similar theory about giving something your attention, and therefore making it more powerful.
http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=57283

In my experience, it works to a certain degree. The more I give something attention, the more vivid it becomes. Some dreams, however, are just unstable. No matter how much attention I give something, it will not become any clearer.

This is especially true when it comes to dream characters. Some are just plain stupid. No matter how many questions I ask them, they remain zombies. Then, for some reason, a character will come along and spout off some brilliant dialogue completely unprovoked.

I think it has a lot to do with your subconscious. No matter how much you think you are controlling your dream, there is always an inaccessible part of yourself who has it's own ideas.

**SleepyCookieDough** · 01-09-2009 11:30 PM

I looked at the first link but the second was too long for me to read now... It's interresting. I didn't have an LD but I still wanted my own theory... Can't wait for an LD... Then I could give my own experience or tell you that I know exactly like you feel but now, I don't.

**ThreeLetterSyndrom** · 01-10-2009 10:10 AM

Ever since I came up with my theory, I can remember my dreams in all their vividness, in all their glory (even though sometimes it's just bits and pieces)

Nice avvy btw

**spaceexplorer** · 01-10-2009 10:29 AM

I would say, that even if your theory isn't a successful method for improving lucidity (which it could well be)
That it would enhance ones everyday life anyway, making it a very worthwhile pursuit.

Life is short, It's a good idea to notice the detail and enjoy it.

An increased awareness and appreciation of your surroundings, whichever reality, can only be a good thing

**Shift** · 01-13-2009 06:27 PM

I dunno, have you ever had a lucid and focused on things and had the dream still lack vivid details? That kind of ruins the whole theory. I don't think that dreams are inherently vivid, I think it requires that you stop and pause and focus for those details to really exist. Depending on what someone believes a dream to be, their belief will vary. That's mine. I mean real life isn't always vivid either, anyway!

**Robot_Butler** · 01-13-2009 07:46 PM

I think you're right, Shift. I'm sure some of it has to do with brain chemistry, and therefore is out of your control. Some dreams just suck, no matter how lucid you are, or how many tricks you try.

Plus, we all know there are certain chemicals that make your dreams more vivid without any extra effort on your part. It makes sense that you could have the opposite happen and just be stuck in a non-vivid dreaming mode.

**SleepyCookieDough** · 01-13-2009 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by Robot_Butler

I think you're right, Shift. I'm sure some of it has to do with brain chemistry, and therefore is out of your control. Some dreams just suck, no matter how lucid you are, or how many tricks you try.

Plus, we all know there are certain chemicals that make your dreams more vivid without any extra effort on your part. It makes sense that you could have the opposite happen and just be stuck in a non-vivid dreaming mode.

That must suck to me in a blurry world

**paragon** · 01-13-2009 10:23 PM

I disagree with your theory because even my LDs vary significantly in vividness. And my normal dreams tend to be somewhere around 1 - 5% vividness (where 100% is normal reality). I agree that dream recall and paying attention has an effect, because if I am focussing on something specifically in a dream then my recall of that part can increase to 20% or so, but it still never goes beyond that. Yet there are people who report that most of their dreams are 50-60% vividness and above.

My waking life is also lacking in vividness somewhat. Many people have this problem; it's often caused by allergies, mineral deficiencies or blood sugar problems. Mmmm sugar