It was my 4th night trying last night, and I think I'm getting a bit better. However, I seem to be taking baby steps as each night presents a new problem. Last night I remember various times when I was dreaming and suspected I was dreaming, so I'd perform a reality check. But each time I thought about lucidty and performed a reality check, it would partially pull me out of the dream, and I would perform the reality check in real life in my bed. I would still be dreaming, but it was as if I could see the dream at 50% opacity while muted. I can't seem to separate coming awake with becoming lucid. Is there a theory as to why this is happening?