Below are common mistakes which lucid dreamers make, especially those who are beginners:
- They don’t commit
Commitment is needed for one to learn how to lucid dream. You have to train always to accomplish your goals just like taking up piano classes. The common question I usually hear from beginners is
“I’ve been trying to have a lucid dream for three nights and still NOTHING. What am I doing wrong? Please help me!!”
I know how frustrating it is to put your effort into something and you don’t see a positive outcome. But just know that all the efforts are on an unconscious level at that moment, when you eventually reach the point of critical mass, you will snap into a lucid dream. It has to happen in the end.
The early days and weeks of effort can be least rewarding, this is because, it is during those days that you are trying to master a brand new skill, one that doesn’t come naturally.
Know that you are building a lifetime thing. your time isn’t wasted.
- They try too hard
If you can’t practice lucid dreaming mindfully, don’t practice it at all. Below is another complaint;
I tried doing everything last night from MILD, WILD, meditation to a hundred reality checks. But I still can’t have lucid dreams!!”
What might not be right here?
He wants to apply all the techniques, he’s going crazy. He is rushing over a 40-minute guided meditation in 5 minutes. What does that mean?
He is not putting the techniques of mindfully into action.
If you don’t perform every lucid dreaming technique with skill and accuracy, it’s not going to work. Just pay attention to a few techniques that you can perform calmly and properly. Then go to bed, sleep and relax. A lucid dream can’t be forced.
Your lucid dream should be a slow, purposeful effort. You are doing everything wrong if you don’t locate any meaning in your practice.
- Being deprived of sleep
The sweetest lucid dream life can easily be killed by early morning alarms or calls. Try avoiding unnatural awakenings if you can’t help it all.
What do I mean when I say unnatural?
Consider yourself blessed if you don’t have to deal with distractions such as an alarm waking you up and an infant screaming waking you up from sleep.
Those distractions steal your sleep. There are negative effects of lack of sleep but the effects are worse for lucid dreamers since they are deprived of their finest moments of lucidity.
Those hours before the alarm rings are the best to have lucid dreams. Meaning you will remember the dreams much easier.
We have to make time for sleep if we want to make the lucid dream a luxury. Know that quality sleep leads to quality dream time.
- Forgetfulness
You are likely to forget your lucid dreams if your dream world is forgettable.
Being able to recall dreams is very important especially for lucid dreams. It’s not advisable to try advanced lucid dreaming techniques if you are forgetful. Know that if you can recall dreams you will be increasing the intensity of your dreams. You then become self-aware of the dream in progress making it more likely for the lucid kick in.
You can begin by getting a special dream journal or notebook. Try writing down at least one dream every morning.
- Not stabilizing their dreams
I frequently made this mistake in my early lucid dreams. This is a common mistake. It’s awesome to become consciously aware in a dream for the first time. You are more likely to keep a lid on your lucid behavior if any kind of adrenaline-fueled emotion will wake you up.
All you need to do is just stay calm and enjoy the experience of lucidity in the calmest way possible.
The idea of not trying too hard and focusing calmly on a few techniques makes sense. Overexertion in any learning scenario often leads to burnout rather than progress.
The article makes a valid point about commitment and patience being crucial for lucid dreaming. It’s similar to learning any new skill that requires time and persistent effort.
True. The analogy with learning to play an instrument is quite apt. Both require sustained practice to achieve proficiency.
Indeed, consistency is often overlooked in the pursuit of lucid dreaming. Many expect immediate results without giving it the necessary dedication.
The importance of dream journaling to enhance dream recall is well-made. This habit could generalize to other areas requiring memory enhancement, not just lucid dreaming.
Maintaining emotional calm to stabilize lucid dreams is a noteworthy point. Mastering one’s emotional responses can indeed have a broad range of psychological benefits.
Avoiding distractions, particularly alarms, seems to be a practical tip for improving the quality of sleep and potentially lucid dreams. Managing one’s sleep environment is important.