GAH! So close!

Damn it! This night I was dreaming that I stood in front of a mirror looking at myself. I noticed that my hair was really long (the way I had it for about a year ago). I thought to myself "wait a minute! I've cut off my long hair. This has to be a dream"! I wasn't completely sure though, so I looked in the mirror again. This time my face was really weird, so I thought it HAD to be a dream! I thought "I have to say it out loud", but then I realized I was at a party so I didn't want to yell it out like that. So for about 5 secs I really didn't know what to do, should I yell "I'm dreaming" and hope that it was true, or should I forget about it and not make a fool of myself. Then I decided I would yell it out, and just as I were going to, I woke up! GAH!
How can I get rid of this insecurity in my dreams, I mean, the signs were clear that I was dreaming, but still I didn't want to yell it out!

Same thing happens to me sometimes. I am walking along and think, yep, this is a dream, but I don't want to jump up in the air because if it was not a dream, everyone would think I was stupid.

Try using some reality checks that are a little less noticeable, like putting your hand or finger through something. Or try to levitate (without jumping!)

Yeah, the 'embarassment' factor is a real barrier against attaining lucidity. There's no advice I can give you beyond Seeker's wise (as usual) suggestion, but I just thought I'd post here anyway.

You know when you go upstairs and then forget what you need to do? same with this post...

Yeah, happned to me once I was at school in a dream and became lucid... but I was too afraid to do anything fun.

wait a minute, do u guys need to declair to the world that ur dreaming to become lucid or sumthing? cuz if u know that ur dreaming, why be all shy about it, jeez, lol. if i were at that party and become lucid, i'd like blow a hole in the wall sending house pieces and people along with it (yesh yesh, i'm still in my violent stage) and fly off to have a Neo/Smith Duel with my arch - nemisis. just my thoughts though, lol...

It's that we are not 100% sure at the time. I would REALLY hate to do something stupid and find out that I was awake!

Sometimes the line between dreaming and being awake is very thin!

Don't worry Moetrix, you're close now, you'll get that elusive lucid dream yet!

As far as insecurities are concerned - I find that usually you are pretty sure you're in a dream, especially the more lucid dreams you have. There's a certain feeling there, an increased awareness that just lets you "know". But if you're still uncertain, maybe try to find a place to hit something? Dream pain is a weird beast, so maybe try doing something that would hurt (only a bit though of course!) in real life and see what happens.

Another thing you can try to be sure of yourself is go read something, look away, then read it again, or look at a clock a few times. Most people find that words on a page rarely stay the same in dreams, nor do numbers on a clock (if the time even makes sense at all). This is a nice "quiet" way of testing to see if you're in a dream or not that won't arouse suspicion if you're actually awake! Remember to try to stay calm - happy lucid dreaming!

Wow, thanks for all the great help! Can't wait to have that first lucid dream!