Why have my lucids stopped after joining this forum?

[onyxdreamer]

I've always had lucid dreams on and off. I seem to be having a harder time since joining the forum. Is it because I am so focused on having a lucid dream? Am I trying too hard? If you are naturally lucid, can trying to implement techniques cause some sort of block because your mind becomes confused? I would love your opinions on this. Onyx

[drewmandan]

This seems like it might be a case of what I call "Beginner's Luck Syndrome". There are typically 3 stages to learning a new skill. The first stage is when you can do something almost entirely intuitively. You are usually fairly good at whatever the task is, and you don't have to think about it. However, your abilities will naturally be limited because you don't know exactly what you're doing. The second stage is the learning stage. When you begin to consciously learn a skill, you need to begin at the basics. But in the process of going back to the basics, you erase all the intuitive knowledge you already had. Thus, in comparison to earlier, your skills have apparently gotten worse. However, what skills you do have are now entirely transparent. You now know exactly how you do what you do. The third stage is mastery. Because you now understand how everything works, you are once again good at whatever it is you're trying to learn. In fact, at this point you become better than you ever were because you've learned the skill in a systematic and conscious way. So for example, your friend, who plays golf once a year, beats you on the course after you just finished taking lessons. Why? The friend doesn't know what he's doing; he just relies on pure instinct, whereas you are consciously thinking about what you're doing. But since you're still learning, the friend appears to be better. Does that make sense?

[onyxdreamer]

It does make sense. I guess sort of have a wild talent and now that I'm attempting to use techniques, it is interfering. I guess the question is, if I am able to attain lucidity, do I need to learn these techniques? For example, if once I'm lucid, I have no problem flying, do I need to learn a technique on how to become good at flying? I love the science of the technique and all, but as Tim Gunn on Project Runway would say, "I'm worried." This seems like it might be a case of what I call "Beginner's Luck Syndrome". There are typically 3 stages to learning a new skill. The first stage is when you can do something almost entirely intuitively. You are usually fairly good at whatever the task is, and you don't have to think about it. However, your abilities will naturally be limited because you don't know exactly what you're doing. The second stage is the learning stage. When you begin to consciously learn a skill, you need to begin at the basics. But in the process of going back to the basics, you erase all the intuitive knowledge you already had. Thus, in comparison to earlier, your skills have apparently gotten worse. However, what skills you do have are now entirely transparent. You now know exactly how you do what you do. The third stage is mastery. Because you now understand how everything works, you are once again good at whatever it is you're trying to learn. In fact, at this point you become better than you ever were because you've learned the skill in a systematic and conscious way. So for example, your friend, who plays golf once a year, beats you on the course after you just finished taking lessons. Why? The friend doesn't know what he's doing; he just relies on pure instinct, whereas you are consciously thinking about what you're doing. But since you're still learning, the friend appears to be better. Does that make sense?

[drewmandan]

The technques will make you better in the end, but you have to stick with them. Learning a new skill is always hardest at first, and then gets easier with practice.

[onyxdreamer]

You're right. Thanks. The technques will make you better in the end, but you have to stick with them. Learning a new skill is always hardest at first, and then gets easier with practice.

[apfire26]

I used to WILD all the time before I really knew what I was doing. Now that I'm on this site, I've only had a few WILDs. Its not all bad though, I still feel that I'm learning alot, plus I've had tons of DEILDs which I hadn't done before joining this site. Overall, i know this site has helped me in almost every other aspect of my lucid dreaming. And its only going to get better.

[WaaayOutThere]

I have had the same experience. I used to have natural LD's, but then after joining here and I guess fixating on the idea, they are fewer. I just keep doing RC's and I am starting to have success with that.

[sk00mba]

That was damned intelligent drew, nice observations