I am having trouble with AutoSuggestion...

I have started a Dream Journal. I have been doing the Dream Journal thing for three days and each day I have recalled something. The first day, I did better than I expected. I also did well on the second day. But on the third day, I only Recalled small bits of the dream. I knew there was a plot to the dream I just could not remember.
The method I have been trying to use to remember by dreams is AutoSuggestion. (I believe that is when I focus on wanting to remember my dreams and maybe even making a statement like, "I am going to sleep now, and I am going to dream. When I wake up, I remember my dreams.")
I start off by clearing my head. After my brain has calmed down a bit, I relax my body while breathing at a stedy rate. I then will make a statement about falling a sleep, dreaming, and remembering my dreams completely and vividly. I then, gently, try to keep my mind on remembering my dreams as I fall a sleep. The problem is that I can lay there completely still, for hours, and not fall a sleep. My mind will start thinking about random things (like seeing faded things as if from a dream) and then I will clear my head and go back to the thought of remembering my dreams. I will sit there for about over an hour, roll over on my side (after preforming a Reality Check), and then fall a sleep (after giving up). In the morning I try remembering my dreams, usually I wake up then lay back down. I fall a sleep and wake up a little later and will remember parts of that dream. I did pretty well for a few days but I am not sure of how I should be going about the AutoSuggestion thing.

To sum up my question... How do I make an AutoSuggestion about remembering my dreams, keep my intention in my mind AND fall a sleep (and then wake up successfully remembering my dreams). I know it will probably take time to start remembering all my dreams but I need a little help getting started. My main problem is that I cannot fall a sleep and start dreaming after an AutoSuggestion...

HELP!!!

THANKS IN ADVANCE... I APPRECIATE YOU READING THIS!!!

:)

EDIT:
Last night (this is my fourth time trying), I tried something different. I cleared my head and then thought: "I am going to sleep now, and I am going to dream. When I wake up, I remember my dreams...". While I did this, I imagined that I was turning this desire to remember my dreams into a bright white sphere of light. I put this imagined sphere in the middle of my head and let my mind wander, but remembering the light sphere in my head. I tried this, hoping that I would be able to use this to remind me to remember my dreams with out distracting myself. In the morning, around five thirty, I woke up. It took me a while, but I realized I had been dreaming. I pull out my Dream Journal and start writing as the memorys come back. I remembered only part of the dream that I was having but I remembered a good portion of it. About thirty minutes later, I realize I needed to go to the bathroom. I then wonder: "Did I remember my dream because of AutoSuggestion or was I waken up because I had to go to the bathroom?"
I will try again tonight...
HELP!!!

Ok, even though i have the greatest memory in the world (sarcastic) i have been having problems with waking up having to pee. so morning steps should be focus on your dream, not your bladder. sometimes the strangest things remind you of your dream so after going over as mucjh as you can immediately, keep a piece of paper around with you (tip: don't use your scanning answer doc to write down the other half of youre dream) to write it down. So if you dreampt of wine glasess and your classmate suddenly starts joking about how he drank eight shots of whiskey the other day, you can write it down immediately.

i'm new to this whole dream recall thing too...the method that i've been using is the autosuggestion/dream journal method just like you...considering that previously i remembered an average of 1 dream per week and this week alone i've remembered 6, i think it's working pretty well for me...

since i don't have enough experience to say "hey, here's what you're doing wrong," i'll just tell you how i do it and you can go from there...

first off i assume my sleep pose (right side, left leg thrown over a pillow), put in my ear plugs and repeat to myself "i will wake up between dreams and i will remember my dreams"...i repeat that same mantra over and over in my head until HI starts to set in...once i start drifting, i let go of the mantra...if i try to hold on to it and focus, i can't go to sleep...i don't think it's necessary to hold on to the thought until the moment that you fall asleep...maybe that's where the problem lies...

the first night i remembered one dream...the second night i remembered one dream...the third night, one dream...the fourth night i remembered crap but i think that's because i was too tired when i finally went to bed...the fifth night, 3 dreams...well...two that i actually remember and one that i wrote in my dream journal but wasn't aware of...

hopefully that will provide some sort of help for you...good luck with your continuing efforts and sweet dreams... :)

Some methods just don't work for people. Try it a few more times, and if it fails completely then try something else.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wake

I then wonder: "Did I remember my dream because of AutoSuggestion or was I waken up because I had to go to the bathroom?"

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I've been having some of the same issues. I wonder if I woke up because I've been having trouble sleeping or because I had to use the bathroom...

The best thing I've found is to not start doubting yet. You might have had to get up to use the bathroom even if you hadn't dreamed.

I haven't recalled a dream in years until the other night when I used autosuggestion for the first time ("I will recall my dreams") and remembered, even if it was just a few words. I'd try going on with it for about a week, and if it just doesn't get any better, you might try something else.

It may just be that, like when learning to sit at the Piano properly (posture) to play, your body is adjusting to the change. It won't happen automatically - it takes time and a few mishaps on the way. :P

I solved the problem a few days ago... I actually found a pretty good tutorial on AutoSuggestion... I'm better about remembering my dreams now and have already had my first LD without even trying... ( Read about it here: http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=60169 )

I believe my problem was that I was trying too hard so that I was not relaxed enough for it to work... :P

-Happy LDing-

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wake

I solved the problem a few days ago... I actually found a pretty good tutorial on AutoSuggestion... I'm better about remembering my dreams now and have already had my first LD without even trying... ( Read about it here: http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ad.php?t=60169 )

I believe my problem was that I was trying too hard so that I was not relaxed enough for it to work... :P

-Happy LDing-

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That's great! :) If I haven't red the tutorial yet, I shall do so now. I have the issue where I get a little too excited, but I'm pretty good at not trying too hard. And then every noise jolts me and makes my heart jump. :P

So yeah, tutorial. *reads*

I googled AutoSuggestion and I found an OK tutorial that worked fairly well...
( http://www.crhsc.umontreal.ca/dreams...on/recall1.htm )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wake

I googled AutoSuggestion and I found an OK tutorial that worked fairly well...
( http://www.crhsc.umontreal.ca/dreams...on/recall1.htm )

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Hehe, yeah. I've read that, it was really handy. :)

A few things to remember:

Don't force yourself to keep thinking about remembering your dreams, instead tell yourself this as soon as you lie down to go to sleep, but don't keep repeating it to the point where you will actually stay awake.

Allow other random thoughts to run through your head but don't pay too much attention to them, just focus on the breath going in and out of your lungs, how it feels when it leaves through your nostrils.

It is, however, ok to influence those little pesky thoughts that run through your head to think about dreaming and lucid dreaming without putting so much effort into it that you are unable to relax.

Remember, relaxation is key, don't get frustrated with it, and when you wake up, write down your dreams. In the last eight or so days ive recorded around sixteen dreams that I recall, and five of them were lucid using WILD and WBTB techniques, although I just went right back to sleep after waking up and doing a reality check, instead of staying up for a predesignated amount of time, which I feel works best for me.

Just keep at it, you'll come around.