Thread: I'd like some help on focus.

Thanks Vex Kitten. I'm not too concerned about profile problems at the moment but im sure in time its going to get to me!

I haven't experienced Hypnogogic Imagery before, at least i don't recall having done so, and your right about WILDing, I just don't know how easy its going to be for me to actually DILD. I need to develop a method of reminding myself to RC as much as i can, but i only do it whenever i remember. Mainly because at the moment i can't think of any significant Dream Signs that i'd see in RL.
Would you recommend a specific time to go to bed? Because for the past few months I've gone to bed around 1 am everynight, and have to wake up about 7 in the morning for college most of the week. (I'm sure it isnt healthy! )
I feel like I'm being to hasty, but any other methods you could suggest for concentration? OH! Another question! When people have suggested saying things like "I will wake from a dream period" and such like in their methods, do they mean saying it out loud!? Because I'd rather not wake the house.

Thanks.

You could try WBTB since most LDs are going to occur in the last few dreams of the night. Im going to start this method soon because I used to rely on DILD but it hasnt been happening very much in the last month or two. And the dream journal is the most important to LD regularly.

For concentration most people count, or say silently "Im going to lucid dream", or both. Hynogogic imagry is really easy too - just wait until you are pretty tired and use your eyes as if you are awake, trying to focus on what you are seeing on teh back of your eylids. Slowly youll see little bits of color and fluid-like motions and trails. You can let it do what it wants, or try to control what you are perceiving with your imagination.

Good luck!

When it comes to focus, I find that I use different techniques almost every night. I think it depends on what's going through your head. Do you have a song stuck in your head? Did you just watch TV and have it's images stuck in your head? Do you have excessive internal dialogue running through your mind?

I believe that the most important thing to get rid of is the internal dialogue. Try to get the 'words' out of your head by imagining things that have nothing to do with language. Try to focus on your senses - visualize something, focus on the sound of your breathing, imagine the feel of a texture.

There are a ton of mediation techniques, so I would read around and find a couple that appeal to you. I believe that getting your mind to work without language is the key.

Good luck!

Thanks guys.

Memeticverb, I have quite a bit of trouble getting up in the night, so i don't no if at this stage i could really succeed with WBTB, though i suppose Trial and Error is the only way foreward. I've only just started exploring Dreams so I don't know what I'm capable of yet. I tried counting on my first night so i guess i should try that again.

Robot Butler, words are deffinately hard to get rid off, that and music. I shall try to focus on my senses tonight. I just tend to describe everything in my head with words.

Does anyone have a recommended time for me to sleep? Because like i said, i go to bed quite late and wake up quite early on most nights of the week. Also, should i be telling myself "I'm going into a lucid dream" and "when i wake i shall remember my dream" out loud? or should i say these things in my head. I have the feeling these words would make me loose focus. I think thats where im slipping.

Hi there again. You should figure out a fairly regular sleep schedule. I normally sleep 5 hours a night and that seems to work fine for me. Perhaps you only need 6 hours sleep.

Though if you really want to lucid maybe you should try sleep a little longer since the longer REM periods are after about 5 or 6 hours of sleep. Maybe go to bed an hour earlier and wake up an hour earlier to try a wbtb before you actually get out of bed for the day?

Actually, I don't think it matters whether you say your affirmations out loud or in your head, the trick is to REALLY MEAN and BELIEVE what you say. Say them as you feel yourself getting drowsey and then start into whichever lucidity technique you choose.

Best of luck and hope something that one of us said will work for you.

Thanks, it's all very much appreciated. If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll post tonights results, if any, on this thread. I think i'll go get cosy in about 2, 3 hours. I don't know what its like wherever you are but its night here in merry ol' England. Thanks for all the "Good Lucks" !!!! It be Very kind of you.

Originally Posted by ArtfulBodger

Thanks for all the "Good Lucks" !!!! It be Very kind of you.

Well then, good luck! And

Thanks WebMaster, nice to know I am.

Kitties, tell me about it, it was non-stop last night, after every 15 mins of solid concentration music would suddenly burst out and i couldn't get rid of it for the next, like, 10 minutes.

Last night was slightly sucessful on the Dream Recall, guys. Not lucid though. I'll tell you the dreams later on, at the moment I'm in college. I will tell you one thing though, I stayed awake most of last night just trying to focus, I don't think i actually got much sleep, even though i did have a good few dreams. So tired today.

I'll get the dreams down later.

Originally Posted by ArtfulBodger

Thanks guys.

Memeticverb, I have quite a bit of trouble getting up in the night, so i don't no if at this stage i could really succeed with WBTB, though i suppose Trial and Error is the only way foreward. I've only just started exploring Dreams so I don't know what I'm capable of yet. I tried counting on my first night so i guess i should try that again.

Robot Butler, words are deffinately hard to get rid off, that and music. I shall try to focus on my senses tonight. I just tend to describe everything in my head with words.

Does anyone have a recommended time for me to sleep? Because like i said, i go to bed quite late and wake up quite early on most nights of the week. Also, should i be telling myself "I'm going into a lucid dream" and "when i wake i shall remember my dream" out loud? or should i say these things in my head. I have the feeling these words would make me loose focus. I think thats where im slipping.

Basically, the more hours of sleep you get, the more chance you're going to get a lucid dream.
As for telling yourself those things, i don't think it really matters whether you do it out loud or in your head, as long as you know that you intend to wake up then. It's just like when sometimes you may wake up just before your alarm because your body knows when you are intending to.

Cheers Chris. The alarm clock metaphore has actually made alot of sence, Thanks.

I'll let you all know tomorrow.

I, too, have the neverending problem of music in my head. >_<;; Hopefully I can learn to overcome it and get to that point where I'm not thinking of anything, as well as you!