Thread: 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!!!