Reality Checks...mindlessly?

**woodentsick** · 10-23-2011 05:50 PM

Hello all,

I recently learnt about lucid dreaming. Let me just begin by telling you my 'story'. A few days ago, after reading up on lucid dreaming and reality checks, I had a dream that night. Very interestingly, my reality check instinct made me look at a clock, and look away and then look back again, and to my utter surprise the time had changed! The feeling I got when I discovered that I was in a dream is indescribable, but I guess a lot of you would know that feeling already

The same night, I think it was a different REM period (or maybe it wasn't, I can't tell) but I realized I was walking weirdly, like I was in water. That didn't set off any alarms until the very moment I woke up, which is when I realized I was in a dream! I was slightly disappointed I had missed out such an obvious sign, but then again I was elated at finding out lucidity was definitely within my reach!

Now, here's my question: why does this site, and a few videos on youtube, say that you shouldn't perform reality checks 'mindlessly'? Does this mean that we shouldn't get into the habit of randomly doing reality checks? I would've thought it would be good to ingrain that habit in our minds. So is it recommended you only do reality checks when you notice something strange?

Thanks in advance for any comments!
Woodentsick

**Erii** · 10-23-2011 07:32 PM

Good job on being close!

and well with mindless reality, it just means, don't just do a random reality check like plugging your nose quickly then not thinking about it. You want to actually question if you are dreaming, and you don't wanna just do it and not really questions what is going on because that is not beneficial. When you do a reality check ask yourself i you're really awake. Look around, see if anything is odd. etc. think about it.

**Matte87** · 10-23-2011 07:36 PM

It's about awareness. You learn to question your reality. If you just do mindless RC's, you are just making them into a habit. Better strike two birds with one stone and make them into a habit whenever something strange occurs.

**Nightmare** · 10-23-2011 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by Matte87

It's about awareness. You learn to question your reality. If you just do mindless RC's, you are just making them into a habit. Better strike two birds with one stone and make them into a habit whenever something strange occurs.

This.

I personally have done mindless reality checks in dreams, confirmed I was dreaming, and then just shrugged them off because I did not have sufficient awareness in the dream.

Check out Puffin's Sporadic Awareness technique, or one of the other techniques if you would like a more comprehensive account of the importance of awareness and how to develop it.