Thread: Reality Checks - RCs

Imagining the reality check in you mind is VITAL. I didn't do it before, but when i started doing it, the next night, i had my most realistic semi-lucid, i've had(and the first one) which lasted for like 1 - 3 minutes and had amazing physical sense(so high, that i didn't even know if that was really a dream or not, unless i didn't reality check, and still i was a bit scared that i will mess up something).

Imagining the moment when you get lucid and happy about it also helps.

You RC, pretend yo just got lucid and something weird happened. Your favorite actor/actress walks through the door, ...

Originally Posted by gab

Your favorite actor/actress walks through the door, ...

*looks through dream journal*

because of reasons. :3

Nice, this helped me alot.

Hi,

Usually when I do a RC, I can approach it as if I'm genuinely unsure as to whether I'm dreaming or not, however, when I attempt to do another one (maybe an hour later), I can't seem to question it in the same way as before, because I'm now fully certain it's reality due to the RC I did just an hour ago, and know that nothing has changed in that time.

Do you think there's a way to overcome this? I just find it difficult to be 'consistently unsure' as to whether I'm dreaming or not.

Thanks!

I find it to be best, if you are sure, that you could be dreaming. I mean, have this ever happen to you in a LD? You were 100% sure that you are awake, but you RCed anyway and you had 6 fingers? It happens to me all the time. I think it happens, because when I read a thread, I think to myself "wow, that may work for me, I gotta try, even if I don't think so". Then I do it, just in case. Just to be sure. And it does work. With RC, or with rolling out ot my body while WILDing...

If you think of that, it's fairly easy to believe at any moment, that you could be dreaming. But if you can't, then RCing anyway, just in case works as well.

During day, you can think "well, I could be awake, but I RC anyway". But you see, even when I think that, I still believe, that I could be asleep more, than I believe to be awake.

Originally Posted by Eamo24

Usually when I do a RC, I can approach it as if I'm genuinely unsure as to whether I'm dreaming or not, however, when I attempt to do another one (maybe an hour later), I can't seem to question it in the same way as before, because I'm now fully certain it's reality due to the RC I did just an hour ago, and know that nothing has changed in that time.

Do you think there's a way to overcome this? I just find it difficult to be 'consistently unsure' as to whether I'm dreaming or not.

There's no need, ever, to be genuinely unsure of whether or not you are dreaming, Eamo. That is not really the point of RC'ing. A Reality Check is simply a state test, a quick check to confirm that the place you currently occupy is not a dream. If you are practicing a solid enough RC, like looking for Gab's sixth finger, or perhaps seeing if your clock reads the same time each time you view it, then there is no reason to be sure or unsure of anything -- the test will confirm for you.

So the way to overcome this difficulty is to simply not worry about being genuinely concerned... just do the RC's when you remember to do them, and if you do them with sincerity (the only genuine thing you need do is honestly ask the question, "Is this a dream?), then that is enough. Indeed, RC's tend to work best when you are absolutely, genuinely, confidently, sure of your current state!

Oh, and if you find doing an RC within an hour of the last a bit disinegenuous, then do one every two hours!

Thanks, gab & Sageous. That’s some very helpful advice!

Originally Posted by gab

have this ever happen to you in a LD? You were 100% sure that you are awake, but you RCed anyway and you had 6 fingers? It happens to me all the time.

It actually did, gab! I became lucid once from a RC where I was 100% convinced I was in reality. The dream itself was so normal and presented almost no oddities whatsoever; it just took a simple RC to confirm that it was in fact a dream! So yes, I’d imagine that keeping in mind the possibility that it always could be a dream when RCing would definitely make sense.

Originally Posted by Sageous

So the way to overcome this difficulty is to simply not worry about being genuinely concerned... just do the RC's when you remember to do them, and if you do them with sincerity (the only genuine thing you need do is honestly ask the question, "Is this a dream?), then that is enough. Indeed, RC's tend to work best when you are absolutely, genuinely, confidently, sure of your current state!

Great advice, Sageous. ^^ This part really helps things.

Personally, in dreams I've only ever done RCs out of curiosity once lucid ("so what DO my dream hands look like?"), or as aids to stability once lucid ("this seems so realistic, am I really dreaming?"). For me once I even entertain the notion that I'm dreaming, I get lucid. But I still do them (nose pinch, hand check) regularly in waking life, so that they become reflexes to any dream-like situation, in addition to seriously considering my environment/state. The nose-pinch helped me keep lucidity at least once when having a very realistic LD, so it's good to do them regularly!

Hi,

I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to reality check to a change of location, e.g. when going outside, going inside, going between rooms etc.

I’ve been looking to find some arbitrary things to RC over, which might have a good chance of appearing in a dream (as dream signs are very difficult to work with), and thought that this might be a good one.

So do you think RCing to every change in location would be a good idea?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Eamo24

Hi,

I was just wondering if it would be a good idea to reality check to a change of location, e.g. when going outside, going inside, going between rooms etc.

I’ve been looking to find some arbitrary things to RC over, which might have a good chance of appearing in a dream (as dream signs are very difficult to work with), and thought that this might be a good one.

So do you think RCing to every change in location would be a good idea?

Thanks!

I'm betting the whole pile of beans on it in fact. Not only transitions, but also evaluating every location. Trying to stay aware of my location all day long, continually evaluating it to determine if it's a waking location or not. Thus, my sig . I've been working on this for a few months and I see evidence of the practice seeping into dreams. It's taking a while but I think it's a good investment. Location is a more complex than other options because it's a multi-faceted evaluation, unlike a more one-dimensional attribute like blinking or breathing or gravity.

I notice being in locations more than I notice transitions though. Transitions in dreams tend to be more "jump" than smooth walking through doors for example, so I also evaluate every time I have a new location in my vision where I didn't have high awareness/memory of how I got there.

I chose location because I found I had a fairly strong sense of location/orientation in LDs, I can draw overhead maps of my path through most LDs where I'm moving "on foot." It may not make sense for everyone. And it may not work for me well enough either, due to its multi-faceted nature. But I'll give it a few more solid months and see how it goes.

It may not be the best RC ever, and I really don't use it because I usually use four of the suggestions Gab has written. But I will tell you my suggestion anyway.

close eyes, and believe that you can see anyway while having them closed.If you actually see,you're dreaming

In terms of utility, really nothing can beat the nose pinch. It's fast, it's easy to interpret (simple yes/no), you can do it anywhere under any circumstances in a dream, with or without vision, you don't have to find anything first, etc. And it works probably the most reliably of any physical RC.

Hi,

I’ve recently began reality-checking to everyday things like going through doorways etc. The thing is, I encounter things like this a lot throughout the day, and find it difficult to make the same effort to RC every time. After a while it becomes very tiring and repetitive and feels like more of a chore.

I know that RCs shouldn’t feel like a chore, so I wonder is there a way around this?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Eamo24

Hi,

I’ve recently began reality-checking to everyday things like going through doorways etc. The thing is, I encounter things like this a lot throughout the day, and find it difficult to make the same effort to RC every time. After a while it becomes very tiring and repetitive and feels like more of a chore.

I know that RCs shouldn’t feel like a chore, so I wonder is there a way around this?

Thanks.

Well, for one, you could change your mindset, and look forward to the checks. And if a check indicates "not-dreaming" (a term I'm loathe to use now, I consider myself as always dreaming but we need a common vocabulary), then think how much you love dreaming and how you're looking forward to the next one. You control your attitude, keep it positive. Know that the more you do it, the more likely you'll do it in a dream, and feel happy and positive and expectant.

Or you could do fewer checks....but I think more is better.

Also, Eamo, you do not have to do the same RC every time. If a particular RC grows tedious or, worse, robotic, then change it; do something different, perhaps something fun. As long as you are careful to always treat them as FryingMan describes above, it doesn't matter what you're doing, as long as you are doing it sincerely, and are truly testing your state.

gab, this helped me out immensely so far.

I've already gotten into a semi lucid state thanks to practicing these reality checks. I'm doing close to 5-10 a day while doing stories, and this is my 4th day doing them.

The cool part about being a reporter is that there tons of situations I find myself in where I question whether or not I'm dreaming. -Which helps me out a lot.

Originally Posted by Reporter

gab, this helped me out immensely so far.

I've already gotten into a semi lucid state thanks to practicing these reality checks. I'm doing close to 5-10 a day while doing stories, and this is my 4th day doing them.

The cool part about being a reporter is that there tons of situations I find myself in where I question whether or not I'm dreaming. -Which helps me out a lot.

This is specifically why I make an effort to get out and about (I currently work from home), because having a variety of experiences in different places with different mixes of people while doing LD techniques I think best simulates the dream scenario (as opposed to always being in the same place, which for me is very undreamlike).

Hi,

Would it also work if you did reality-checks whenever you think of a dream sign or oddity? I mean, if certain triggers do not appear enough in reality for you to develop a good habit of reality-checking to them, could you just ‘think’ them instead, or pretend they’re happening?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Eamo24

Hi,

Would it also work if you did reality-checks whenever you think of a dream sign or oddity? I mean, if certain triggers do not appear enough in reality for you to develop a good habit of reality-checking to them, could you just ‘think’ them instead, or pretend they’re happening?

Thanks

Absolutely.

Originally Posted by Eamo24

Hi,

Would it also work if you did reality-checks whenever you think of a dream sign or oddity? I mean, if certain triggers do not appear enough in reality for you to develop a good habit of reality-checking to them, could you just ‘think’ them instead, or pretend they’re happening?

Thanks

Yes, and as noted on another thread now active, you don't need to "fake" dream signs. Just imagine that wherever you are, whatever you're doing, you could be dreaming right now! Do an RC, look around, check things out, read a few signs, check memory, etc. Do this often enough and LD frequently should really pick up after some time (time for everyone is different: could be weeks / months even, don't give up! It will eventually start to really kick in).

Whether you actually see your dream sign or not, it doesn't really matter, IMHO. What matters is your state of mind at the moment when you realize you "see" your dream sign.

You can just say at anytime "oh wow, my dream sign" and get the real feeling of surprise when you RC.

This method worked for me when I was "surprised" at something strange happening. Nothing strange happened, but I told myself "wow, now that's strange". And then this feeling happened in my regular dream, promted me to RC and I got lucid.

Thank you gab for this information. I've been doing my RCs half wrong. :-(

yeah, gab, I think that's good tip.
What about doing reality check also everytime when you see someone at first time? members of family, friends or others...