help with lucid dreams (length wise)

[11121]

I've been getting a few lucids lately, but they're all over pretty much before they began. It's really strange too, I'll become aware, think ok gotta make this last so i'll study things that are vivid. As soon as I start doing that the whole thing fades away. Also I can only sometimes do things that defy the laws of physics. Sometimes things like using telekinesis just won't work. Anybody got any tips to solve these problems? Thanks...

[MixedMan]

There are a lot of ways to prolong lucid dreams, there's whole threads dedicated to it, but if you don't feel like looking for them here's a quick tip: rub your hands together in your LD, I don't remember the scientific explanation for why this works but studies show that it does in 90% of the cases.

[11121]

yeah I've never tried that, I'll give it a shot. I try spinning loads but it still fades away.

[MixedMan]

Other things you can try are spinning your dream body (although this one makes me either lose lucidity or change dreamscape), focusing on dream detail, looking at the ground, etc. As to how to improve skills like telekinesis, or any other skill for that matter, try thinking of an object that would help, like a magic wand or whatever. This will help you believe you can do it, therefore it will happen.

[11121]

I look at the ground alot but it makes it all fade away mostly, it just never seems to work. Spinning for me, is automatic end, thats how it seems to have been lately I think i'll try the hands rubbing, I'm hoping that'll work

[Adrenaline Junkie]

I find that spinning will end the dream for me also, a good one to try is just looking at your hands and studying them, keep your mind focused and don't let it wander, just believe that you can do it and you will be able to do it! don't try your best, do your best, don't hope it will work, make it work. I wish you all the best

[Alex D]

As the others have said, rubbing your hands together seems to work wonders. I find slowing down and thinking logically about things helps too, try not to rush, just take the time to relax and gether your thoughts. Also, with doing things that defy the laws of physics, I find that keeping a clear, logical mind helps with that too. I just remind myself that I'm in a dream and that it'll work because it's not real and it does. Dream control is all about self belief really.

[11121]

thanks for the help, I'll try those things next time I get the chance

[Adrenaline Junkie]

Great stuff, thats the sort of enthusiasm people need! If you have any questions at all feel free to ask

[TravisE]

In my opinion, it's also important not to overlook practice and persistence. It can take a while for things to begin working, but I've been able to finally begin doing some things I've been wanting to do in lucid dreams. It has taken many attempts, but it seems to work sooner or later. I don't give up on anything even when it seems like I'm not getting anywhere, because for me it seems like each time I attempt something in a lucid dream there's a possibility of succeeding without warning—the outcome of the previous attempts doesn't seem to matter. I don't know if that applies to anyone else, but I find it interesting since it seems quite different to how real life works. The duration of lucid dreams may also tend to increase on their own after you have enough of them. I don't seem to have as many really short lucid dreams as I used to. The dream-prolonging techniques don't seem to have much of an effect for me personally, but my main focus is to accomplish as much as I can in each lucid dream as possible without wasting any time, and this seems to work well enough that I don't need to worry about trying to prolong the dream. But the bottom line is that no strategy seems to work for everyone, and you should try everything several times until you do find something that works. I tend to write longer than average posts, so if that was too long, what I said in a nutshell is: keep trying and don't give up, and the situation will likely improve, eventually. Even when you become experienced, though, I wouldn't expect every lucid dream to be perfect, but as time passes the success rate may improve substantially.